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Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee - Wednesday, 8th May, 2024 10.30 am

May 8, 2024 View on council website Watch video of meeting Watch video of meeting
AI Generated

Summary

The council meeting focused on a review of a premises license for European mini-market due to alleged illegal activities. The license holder, Mr. Ishmael, claimed ignorance about the business operations and ultimately surrendered his license, leading to the termination of the review proceedings.

Decision: Termination of License Review Proceedings

  • About: The review of the premises license was initiated due to findings of illegal cigarettes and vapes at the European mini-market.
  • Arguments: Trading Standards presented evidence of the illegal items found. Mr. Ishmael claimed he was unaware and not involved in the business beyond holding the license.
  • Implications: With the license surrendered, there was no longer a basis for continuing the review. This decision likely prevents immediate further legal complications for Mr. Ishmael but leaves questions about the operation and management of the mini-market.

Interesting Event:

  • Details: Mr. Ishmael's unexpected claim of minimal involvement with the mini-market and his subsequent decision to surrender his license were surprising. This abrupt development led to the swift conclusion of the meeting, highlighting potential vulnerabilities in the licensing process and oversight. In a recent meeting of the Wolverhampton Statutory Licensing Subcommittee, the main focus was the review of the premises license for European Mini-Market located at 94 Presswood Road, Wolverhampton. The review was prompted by concerns over the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm.

Review of European Mini-Market's Premises License

The review was initiated by Trading Standards due to the discovery of illegal activities at European Mini-Market. Diane, representing Trading Standards, reported that during an inspection on March 14, 2024, authorities found over 1,000 illegal cigarettes, 16 pouches of hand-rolling tobacco, and 158 oversized vapes. These items were either improperly labeled or exceeded the permissible sizes for legal sale in the UK. The presence of these items suggested smuggling activities, which is a violation under Section 144 of the Licensing Act. Additionally, a substantial amount of cash (£1,640) was seized by the West Midlands Police from the premises.

The owner of the shop, Keifi Ishmael, who is also the holder of the premises license and the designated premises supervisor, claimed to have minimal involvement with the shop, stating he was only present for an hour and was unaware of the illegal activities. Despite his claims, the license was in his name, and he was legally responsible.

Given the severity of the violations, Trading Standards recommended a three-month suspension of the premises license to allow for staff training and the implementation of robust conditions, including joining a responsible retailer scheme equivalent to the City of Wolverhampton Council's Trading Standards Responsible Retailer Scheme.

Conclusion of the Review

During the meeting, Keifi Ishmael decided to surrender his premises license. This action effectively ended the need for further review, as there was no longer a license to assess. The subcommittee accepted the surrender, and the proceedings were concluded.

This meeting highlighted the council's commitment to upholding licensing laws and protecting the community from illegal activities that undermine public safety and health.