APPENDIX C

Police Station

John Street

Brighton

BN2 0LA

REDACTED TEXT

10^th December 2020

The Licensing Technical Support Officers
Environmental Health, Brighton & Hove City Council
Bartholomew House, Bartholomew Square
Brighton, East Sussex
BN1 1JP

MSB CON ENDS 18.12.20 VALID PCD & PCH (A)

Dear REDACTED TEXT

RE: APPLICATION FOR A NEW PREMISES LICENCE FOR PORTOS GRILL, 53 ARUNDEL ROAD, BRIGHTON, BN2 5TB UNDER THE LICENSING ACT 2003.Application 1445/3/2020/03928/LAPREN

I write on behalf of the Chief Officer of Police for Sussex to raise a representation against the grant of the above licence application on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance. We also make reference to the 2019 Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) Statement of Licensing Policy.

This is a proposed new licence application and seeks the following hours and licensable activities:

Late Night Refreshment (Both Indoors and Outdoors)

Every day:                                           23:00 – 00:00

Alcohol – (Both On and Off sales)

Every day:                                           08:00 – 00:00

Opening hours

Every Day:                                          08:00 – 00:00

This premises is situated in an area of Brighton that causes concern for Sussex Police around the high levels of crime and disorder and anti-social behaviour.

The location of the premises already suffers from anti-social behaviour, high levels of thefts both shop lifting and personal level thefts. Sussex Police have received high numbers of calls from this area with regards to both licensed premises and residential addresses.

Granting a new late night refreshment and alcohol licence we believe could add further to issues currently experienced within this area of the city and so have a negative impact on the surrounding area. It could also pull resources away from our already well established night time economy areas so adding additional strain. The night time economy within Brighton & Hove can at times be challenging for all the emergency services and within the City we have a high number of late night licensed venues however, these are generally in very close proximity to each other which assists emergency services being able to manage them.   Therefore, by granting a new late night refreshment with on and off sales of alcohol could lead to people congregating this area after a night out in the city.

Due to the risks associated with intoxication, the City has a number of initiatives that support Police and other emergency services in safeguarding the general public. The majority of these organisations and persons involved with them are volunteers and operate in their spare time. None of these resources stretch out to Arundel Road which mean that Police and other 999 services will be the first point of call for all incidents. The fact these services exists goes some way to prove the negative impact alcohol has within the city and by working with us and medical services, they assist in reducing the impact this has by being able to deal with low level incidents which leaves us available to deal more serious ones.

The applicant has offered limited information under Section M of their application with minimal workable conditions and Sussex Police do not believe these go far enough to help mitigate any potential risk in this area of the City. The conditions offered fall short of the current city wide expected standard and there is no mention of any crime prevention measures such as an SIA risk assessment or provision.

No conditions have been offered to state alcohol would be served alongside food therefore anyone could enter the premises to purchase alcohol alone then either drink within the premises or to take away.

On another note, no mention of conditions regarding deliveries have been offered. Therefore Alcohol could be delivered to a child under age or any person at a public outside space.

Sussex Police additionally contend that the carrying on of additional licensable activity and the hours applied for at these premises will add to the existing negative cumulative effect in an area already suffering with high crime and disorder.

Therefore, Sussex Police invite the Licensing Authority to seriously consider refusing this application.

Yours sincerely,

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