Issue details

Application for the Review of a Premises Licence made under the Provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 - The Dukes Head, 8 Church Terrace, Wisbech, Cambs, PE13 1BJ.

The application has been submitted by Cambridgeshire Police. The relevant licensing objectives are:

·         The prevention of crime and disorder

·         Public safety

The application to review the premises licence relates to an alleged offence that took place on Sunday 26th January 2025 at approximately 03:20 hours when there was a report of persons fighting on Market Square, Wisbech, between several persons. The affray incident is still being investigated.

During the investigation, it has been established by the Police that Mr Rafique (the Designated Premises Supervisor) and Mr Shahid (director of the Premises Licence Holder) were involved.

The application can be found on pages 14 to 24 of the Committee bundle. The reasons for the application to review can be found on page 19 of the Committee bundle.

The premises licence holder is DS Wisbech Limited, and the Designated Premises Supervisor is Mr Shahid Rafique. The licence can be found on pages 25 to 34 of the bundle along with the conditions attached to the licence.

The Applicant has requested that the Sub-Committee consider:

1.    The removal of Mr Rafique as the Designated Premises Supervisor; and

2.    Whether the Premises Licence, although in a company name but under the control of Mr Shahid and influenced by Mr Rafique, should be revoked.

Present at the hearing were:

·         The applicant, Cambridgeshire Police, represented by PC Paul Hawkins,

·         The premises licence holder, DS Wisbech Ltd, and the company’s sole director, Mr Nawaf Shahid, represented by Mr Jon Payne,

·         The DPS of the Premises, Mr Shahid Rafique, represented by Mr Jon Payne, and

·         Interested Party who had made a representation.

The Sub-Committee heard evidence from the Police Licensing Officer and the legal representative of the Premises Licence Holder and the Designated Premises Supervisor. The Sub-Committee also took into account representations received both in support of the review application and the Designated Premises Supervisor. The Sub-Committee disregarded matters that did not relate to the promotion of the licensing objectives or were otherwise irrelevant.

In order to promote the licensing objectives, the Sub-Committee can take the following steps:

·        Modify the conditions and or times of the licensable activities

·        Exclude a licensable activity from the scope of the licence

·        Remove the designated premises supervisor

·        Suspend the licence for a period not exceeding 3 months

·        Revoke the licence in its entirety

·        Issue an informal warning or take no action.

In deliberations the Sub-Committee were referred to:

v  The Council's own Statement of Licensing Policy

v  The statutory Government guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003.