The Licensing (2003 Act) Sub-Committee of Newham Council met to review the premises licence for Greenland Supermarket, located at 323 Romford Road, Forest Gate, E7 9HA. The committee decided to modify the conditions on the licence, with the CCTV condition following the version proposed by the Metropolitan Police.

Review of Premises Licence for Greenland Supermarket

The subcommittee heard a review of the premises licence for Greenland Supermarket, 323 Romford Road, Forest Gate, E7 9HA. The review was initiated by the council's licensing team and supported by representations from the Metropolitan Police and three residents. The grounds for the review included the prevention of crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance, and public safety.

The case officer, Steve Jackson, presented the report, outlining the history of the licence and the reasons for the review. The Metropolitan Police, represented by Colin Hunt, detailed concerns about street drinking, anti-social behaviour, and sales outside of permitted hours. They highlighted that while ASB reports in the immediate vicinity were low, there was still clear evidence of street drinkers congregating and discarding alcohol containers in the area. The police supported the recommendation to revoke the licence or impose comprehensive conditions.

Graeme Hopkins, representing the licence holder, Hazret Qasibam, and the National Association of Turkish Restaurants, Takeaways and Supermarkets (NARTS), presented their case. He argued that the incident of selling alcohol outside of permitted hours on 20 September 2024 was a one-off mistake due to the employee's personal circumstances. He also highlighted that the staff had undergone relevant training and that the premises had passed underage sales test purchases. Mr. Hopkins contested some of the proposed conditions, arguing they were impractical and would negatively impact the business. He stated that the licence holder had voluntarily stopped selling high-strength ciders and had agreed to most of the proposed conditions, with the exception of restrictions on maximum strength beers, multi-packs, and small bottles of spirits.

During the hearing, evidence was presented, including CCTV footage of an incident on 21 August 2024 where a street drinker attempted to purchase alcohol but was refused by staff. The subcommittee also discussed the conditions on other nearby off-licences, such as Tesco and Iceland, which have restrictions on the strength of alcohol sold.

The subcommittee deliberated and decided to modify the conditions on the licence as set out by the licensing officers, with the exception of the CCTV condition, which will follow the version set out by the Metropolitan Police. The detailed reasons for the decision will be provided in a letter to the applicant within five working days. Parties involved have the right to appeal the decision to the magistrates' court within 21 days.