Hanley pub told to 'beef up' security after police raise concerns

THIRTY extra conditions have been added to a pub's licence after police raised concerns over underage drinking, fights and drug-taking.

City councillors imposed the extra conditions on the Market Tavern's licence after Staffordshire Police ordered a review.

The changes include bouncers working at the Hanley pub from 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 9pm on Mondays.

The pub is licensed to open from 9am to 2.30am every day.

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The sanctions come as police have dealt with nine incidents at the Percy Street pub in the past two years.

The incidents include:

Groups of men taking drugs in the toilets;

Reports of underage drinking and drug-taking at a private party in an upstairs room;

Up to 30 men fighting outside the pub following a wake. Seven arrests were made for public order offences and assault;

A 'heavily-intoxicated' woman throwing glasses around the bar after being refused another drink.

The review was also called after a 16-year-old girl bought a bottle of cider in a trading standards sting last December.

City council worker Gary Basford, who took part in the operation, said: "I saw the volunteer order a drink from the barmaid and she asked if she needed a glass and then fetched a bottle of Bulmers original cider, opened it and placed it on the bar.

"She then took the money and there was no other conversation with the volunteer and she did not ask the volunteer for any ID."

Police found the pub's till did not prompt staff about underage sales and there was no refusals book. CCTV images were only retained for seven days.

The barmaid was handed an £80 fixed-penalty notice for selling the cider to the girl.

PC Hana Mir, from Staffordshire Police's licensing team, said: "The girl did not look 18 and this can be corroborated significantly by the fact that on the night 17 licensed premises were tested and only four sold to the volunteers.

"The seller of the alcoholic drink states that she had not received any training from the staff at the Market Tavern.

"It is questionable whether the seller had received any training while employed at the Market Tavern."

PC Mir added: "Since November 2010, there have been a number of reported incidents of crime and disorder at the premises.

"These include drug issues, violent incidents and drunken issues.

"It appears that little has been done to prevent or reduce the number of incidents."

Members of Stoke-on-Trent City Council's licensing sub-committee imposed the extra conditions after considering the evidence at yesterday's meeting.