Issue - meetings

Daliah Barrett, Licensing Officer, introduced the report as set out.  The application was a request made by Trading Standards for a review of the premises licence due to the failure to uphold the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder.  Ms Barrett advised that following the visit from Trading Standards to the premises, Mr Bariz (premises licence holder) had applied to become the Designated Premises Supervisor, and was now named as such on the premises licence.

Michael Squire, Trading Standards outlined the application for a review of the premises licence.  Mr Squire had visited the premises on 12 November 2019, along with officers from HMRC, where illicit cigarette and tobacco sales had been found to have taken place.  Officers seized cigarettes and tobacco from the premises, with unpaid UK excise duty of £2864.21 in relation to the cigarettes, and £70.40 in relation to the tobacco.  The premises licence holder, Mr Bariz, was not present at the time of the visit, nor was the Designated Premises Supervisor.  During the visit, officers found illicit cigarettes and tobacco behind the counter and in the cellar, which was accessed via a trapdoor found underneath a bin.  An employee, Mr Hashimi, was present at the time of the visit and advised officers that Mr Bariz knew of the cigarettes and tobacco.

Mr Squire advised that in addition to the non-duty payment, it was a criminal offence to sell cigarettes and tobacco in non-UK standardised packaging and with incorrect pictures and health warnings.

In response to questions from Mr Bariz, Mr Squire advised that paperwork had been provided to Mr Hashimi on the day of the visit which outlined the offences committed.  He added that it would not be unusual for employees to be provided with this information to pass on to their employers if they were not present at the time of the visit.

In response to a question from the Committee, Mr Squire advised that the premises were selling legal cigarettes which were displayed correctly.  He also explained that the cellar was also found to be used for general stock as well as the illicit goods.

Mr Bariz, Premises Licence Holder, responded to the application made by Mr Squire.  He advised that at the time of the visit, he had not worked in the premises as regularly as usual, due to his mother’s ill health.  He stated that he had no knowledge of the illicit goods.  He informed the Committee that he was now at the premises every day from 16.00 until closing.  Mr Hashimi had been removed from the premises, and Mr Bariz had taken over as the Designated Premises Supervisor.  Mr Bariz advised that he had attended courses for under-age sales and age verification, and had implemented the Challenge 25 age verification policy for the premises.  He added that he now had a proper training manual and had employed two new members of staff who had been properly trained and inducted.

Ms Barrett commented that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5