Police target Cheadle kebab house in 'steak-out'
POLICE kept watch at a town centre kebab shop – after customers were spotted walking away with bags of takeaway food after closing time.
Officers visited Cheadle Kebab and Pizza five times between December and February and ordered staff to shut because they were in breach of their licence.
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Cheadle Kebab and Pizza
They even asked customers if they could check their food to prove the late-night snacks were still hot.
The Chapel Street shop only had permission to open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.
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But the police vigil found customers had been served until 1am.
Special Constable Louise Lewis, who was on duty with three other officers at 1am on Saturday, January 14, said: "As we left the police vehicle a man was leaving the premises. I approached the man, asked if he had been served hot food, and requested to feel the bag.
"The man stated that he had been served hot food and granted me the request to feel the bag. I felt the bag and saw that it contained hot food so we entered the premises."
Despite the police protests, takeaway owner Ahmet Kose was yesterday granted a licence to serve food until 1am at weekends by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council's licensing committee.
Committee chairman Councillor Madelaine Lovatt said: "We take breaches very seriously.
"There is no excuse for not following police advice and closing on time. However, we are mindful that the clients had operated for four years with the licence they had inherited, and as far as we are aware no other issues or concerns have arisen.
"There have been no objections from residents, environmental health or any other agencies.
"There have been no incidents of anti-social behaviour or disorder.
"If there are further breaches, we would invite the police to review the licence."
Takeaway representative David Farley said the extra hour at the weekends was needed.
He told the meeting: "There is a local demand for food at that time in the morning.
"They have made the application so they can operate legitimately. All the major objections to these sorts of premises are that they attract late-night revellers, but that does not apply in this case."
Licensing officer Hana Mir said neighbourhood police had first spotted the takeaway was open beyond its permitted hours on December 27 and the premises had been monitored. A further four incidents were then reported.
She told councillors there could be no confidence staff would comply with the conditions of the licence and called on the panel to delay granting the application for six months to give them the opportunity to demonstrate they could adhere to regulations.
She said: "Criminal offences have been committed. They continued trading illegally after being visited by police."
Comments
by greyguitar
Tuesday, March 20 2012, 7:22PM
“The point is, this eating establishment is 20 yards away from the new police station and 10 yards away from a law and license abiding fish & chip shop. It's taking the proverbial to be doing it that close to a police station. This guy was rubbing their noses in it and they had to do something. To be quite honest though, you've got to be ratted and half asleep to eat that slop.”
by lungknot
Tuesday, March 20 2012, 1:09PM
“Mumof225,
Your kids must be so proud of you, a self confessed drunk. I bet you even want them to follow in your drunken footprints because it's such a great laugh to be drunk isn't it? Great example. Now grow up.”
by stevenweiss
Monday, March 19 2012, 9:32PM
“These shenanigans are part of what give the police a tough job. They do their job, enforce the law, then the lawmakers throw it in their face. No wonder the police have no enthusiasm for their job.”
by mumof225
Monday, March 19 2012, 9:55AM
“wow what has the world come to!!!! police officers checking for hot food what next.......
is that what our taxs get spent on?
All takeways are found to help sober up drunks, i know lol, my opion!!!!”
by djdaz1210
Sunday, March 18 2012, 11:47PM
“the talk of food. IM GETTING HUNGRY NOW. logging off the internet.
PIZZZZZZZZZZZZZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA for me”
by bolankeith
Sunday, March 18 2012, 5:04PM
“Actually Barneytrouble has a good point.”
by soccerfoot11
Sunday, March 18 2012, 1:34PM
“the horror of it all. Initially, i thought the "steak"-out and checking of bags was to see if the people were smuggling drugs, or arms, or parts for a nuclear bomb. BUT NO! It was something more sinister, they were checking for hot food !Thanks to the police force for keeping the public safe from after hours hot food, no telling what devastating consequences would result if it was allowed to continue !!”
by Barneytrouble
Sunday, March 18 2012, 10:47AM
“The police are just doing their job surely? Much of the petty crime reported can possible be attributed to late night drunken revellers, therefore by ensuring the local businesses serving them are abiding by their licences will no doubt make sure they get home faster. The need for late night food is a given, but like any business it needs to be regulated - thats why the license is there in the first place. There wouldn't be such responses if the report was written about the police checking car licences, insurance or tax.”
by johnwhite18
Sunday, March 18 2012, 6:47AM
“POLICE kept watch at a town centre kebab shop Officers visited Cheadle Kebab and Pizza five times between December and February and ordered staff to shut because they were in breach of their licence looks like Cheadle has a very very low crime rate if that all the police as find to do of a night !”
by bolankeith
Sunday, March 18 2012, 5:40AM
“I was going to make a smart a*s comment but just reading the report tells me my work is done here. Time to move on to the next' headline.'”