The Licensing Sub-Committee decided to revoke the licence of Global Food & Drink, 44 St. James Street, Walthamstow after hearing evidence that the business had repeatedly broken the law, and following a history of problems at the shop.

Review of Licence for Global Food & Drink

The Sub-Committee heard evidence from the Council's Trading Standards team that they had found illicit tobacco on sale at the shop on two occasions in 2021 and 2023. On the second occasion, Trading Standards Officers used a detection dog which found 54 packs of illicit cigarettes.

The Sub-Committee also heard evidence that a 15-year-old child was able to buy alcohol in the shop in 2023, and that two children aged 14 and 15 were able to buy a disposable vape in the shop in 2024.

The shop was previously the subject of a review in 2017 after illicit tobacco was found at the premises. Following the 2017 review, the licence was suspended for three months and a condition was added to the licence that the then licence holder's son, Mr Bilgin Redzheb, shall be excluded from the premises and not be allowed to have any dealings or involvement with the premises.

The licence was subsequently transferred a number of times.

The Licensing Officer also clarified to the Sub-Committee that...the licence had been transferred on two occasions to different companies with the same individuals involved before lapsing after the company went into insolvency in August 2021. A new company with the same director made an application for a new licence in October 2021 which was granted after the applicant agreed to have the same conditions attached that were on the previous licence that lapsed. The Licensing team then received a further application to transfer the licence in May 2024 to a new company with Mr Bilgin Redzheb as director who also became the DPS.

Waltham Forest Council Licensing Officer, Printed minutes 30th-Jul-2024 13.00 Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee

Mr Redzheb's lawyer argued that Mr Redzheb was not the licence holder at the time of the new offences, and so it would be unfair to take action against him.

The Sub-Committee noted that the Licensing Authority had granted the transfer of the licence to Mr Redzheb's company by mistake. They said they were concerned by the history of criminal activity at the shop.

The Sub-Committee determined that the shop's licence should be revoked.