The Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to consider an application for the review of a premises licence for Wazir Food & Wine, following a closure order issued by the Metropolitan Police. The meeting agenda includes consideration of apologies for absence and declarations of interest.

Review of Wazir Food & Wine Premises Licence

The primary focus of the meeting is scheduled to be an application for the review of the premises licence for Wazir Food & Wine, located at 97 Dudden Hill Lane, NW10 1BD. This review has been initiated by the Metropolitan Police due to a closure order that was issued under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The grounds for the review are stated as the prevention of crime and disorder, and the prevention of public nuisance, with concerns raised about anti-social behaviour affecting the public.

The report pack indicates that representations have been received from the Licensing Officer and The College of North West London. The closure order, granted by Brent Magistrates Court, was in effect for six weeks, ending on 21 September 2026. The review hearing is automatically triggered by this closure order under section 167 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The premises is currently licensed for the sale of alcohol from 8:30 am to 11:00 pm Monday to Saturday, and from 10:30 am to 11:00 pm on Sundays. The Designated Premises Supervisor is Mr Balwinder Singh Ghaba.

The report pack details the grounds for the review, including a significant amount of intelligence and stop-and-search data gathered by the Metropolitan Police. This information suggests a pattern of drug dealing and gang-related activity occurring in and around the premises. The police statement notes that it is very likely this group of males is dealing drugs out of Wazir Food & Wine, possibly against the shopkeeper's consent or knowledge.

The Licensing Authority has also made representations, highlighting breaches of the premises licence conditions identified during inspections. These include issues with CCTV recording retention, a lack of staff training records, inconsistent labelling of alcohol, and the unsafe operation of the cash safe. A follow-up inspection noted that alcohol remained on display and available for sale despite instructions to cease sales. The Licensing Authority recommends modifying the conditions of the premises licence to promote the licensing objectives, proposing a comprehensive list of 24 new conditions covering CCTV, staff training, sales procedures, and product restrictions.

The College of North West London has also raised significant safeguarding concerns, particularly regarding vulnerable learners. They believe the reopening of the premises has heightened concerns about potential safeguarding risks and the impact on the local community, and have requested that the licence be revoked.

The committee will consider the powers available to them under the Licensing Act 2003, which include modifying, removing, or adding conditions to the licence, excluding licensable activities, removing the Designated Premises Supervisor, suspending the licence for up to three months, or revoking the licence entirely.

The documents associated with this item include the Closure Order, representations from the Licensing Officer and The College of North West London, the current licence, and an OS map.