North Herts premises in breach of licence

PUBS and clubs breaching their licences were the target of a police operation in the lead up to Christmas, with a quarter of all premises investigated not meeting requirements.

Special constables in North Herts teamed up for Operation Inquire in a bid to crack down on licensing checks.

Visiting pubs, clubs, and off-licences in Hitchin and Baldock over two Saturday nights, they found four establishments were not compliant with the licences which permit them to trade.

The operation was ran in partnership with North Herts District Council (NHDC).

Special Sergeant Megan Cope said: “We were really pleased to be able to lead on this operation and work alongside NHDC.

“It is the law that that pubs, clubs, off-licences and after hours refreshment facilities comply to the conditions of their licences to ensure the safety of members of the public using their facilities.

“We hope this work sends out a strong message to premises in the area and encourages them to keep on top on the requirements of their licences in the future.”

Premises not meeting the requirements may be subject to enforcement action by either the council or the police, and must rectify the breaches immediately.

If they do not do so, they face further action, which could include their licences being revoked, or prosecution.

Cllr Bernard Lovewell, NHDC’s portfolio holder for housing and environmental health, said: “It was fantastic to have the support of the Special Constabulary during this operation.

“We routinely carry out these checks at regular intervals. If any premises are found to be in breach of their licence, we work with the owners to ensure they are aware of what is expected of them and that they rectify any issues before further action needs to be taken.”

Herts Police says it cannot name the four premises in breach of their licences as publicising their details could prejudice any potential enforcement action.