Council strips Sheffield takeaway of licence after drug dealing claims

Members of the authority's licensing committee this week sided with police, who had already successfully applied for a temporary closure order.

As a result, S1 Food Bar in Fitzalan Square will no longer be able to sell alcohol or 'late night refreshment'.

Cabinet member for housing Jayne Dunn said: “This is another good example of the council and police working together to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in our city.

"Prosecutions such as this will help make the city centre a safe place for people to enjoy.”

Joint chairman of licensing Coun David Baker added: “The license for S1 Food Bar and Off License was revoked because we had evidence that crime, noise, public safety and safeguarding issues were all arising from the premises.

"Despite the efforts made by outside agencies to engage and work with the business, it still failed to make improvements. It was not felt that extra license conditions would help with the problems on this occasion and this is why our Licensing Committee reached this course of action.”

Police worked with council officers and other partners to gather evidence of problems around the takeaway.

PC Paul Briggs and PC Freddie Le-Billion Payne, from the Sheffield West Neighbourhood Team, said: “This takeaway was a persistent problem in Fitzalan Square and we were receiving and responding to numerous reports regarding potential criminality and antisocial behaviour.

“Working alongside our joint anti-social behaviour team and the council’s licensing department, we were able to apply to close the takeaway. An order was granted by the courts to close the takeaway for a month.

“We are continuing to work hard alongside our partners to improve the Fitzalan Square area and I hope this shows that if you have any concerns about that area, we will listen to you and we will act upon those concerns with the powers we have at our disposal.

“We want to make sure that the area is a safe and useable space for everyone to enjoy."

Police said they would monitor any premises where criminal and antisocial behaviour was allowed or participated in. Action would be taken when sufficient evidence was gathered, they added.

Licensing officer Andrew Marsden said: “South Yorkshire Police, together with partnership working, will take a robust approach to any licensed premises who undermine the licensing objectives within the Licensing Act 2003.”

Today’s top stories:

LATEST: Seven arrested over London terror attack

Hundreds of police officers working on terror probe

Children from South Yorkshire school caught up in terror attack

South Yorkshire man wanted over attempted murder

Probe launched into early morning flat fire in Sheffield

Sheffield child prostitution gang 'stole the childhoods' of their young victims

Child disappears from South Yorkshire primary school

Sheffield United: How is Billy Sharp is making his presence felt behind the scenes at Bramall Lane?

Jon Newsome's Owls Column: Sheffield Wednesday fans are entitled to their opinion... but social media abuse of players is out of order

Download The Star's mobile app now for FREE