This meeting was convened to consider an application for a new premises licence for Prestwich Mini Market, 3 Fairfax Road, Prestwich. The application was submitted by Prestwich Mini Market Limited, and the proposed Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) was Mr Zanyar Hasan Njad.

Application for a Premises Licence to be Granted Under the Licensing Act 2003 in Respect of Prestwich Mini Market, 3 Fairfax Road, Prestwich, M25 1AS

Prestwich Mini Market Limited applied for a new premises licence to permit the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises from Prestwich Mini Market, 3 Fairfax Road, Prestwich, M25 1AS. The applicant proposed the following hours of operation:

• Monday-Thursday: 08:00 - 23:00
• Friday & Saturday: 08:00 - 00:00
• Sunday: 09:00 - 23:00

The applicant proposed to be able to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises during the following hours:

• Monday-Thursday: 10:30 - 22:30
• Friday: 10:30 - 23:30
• Saturday: 10:00 - 23:30
• Sunday: 11:00 - 22:30

The applicant included a schedule of proposed conditions for the licence in their application.

Two Responsible Authorities submitted representations against the application - the Trading Standards Service and Greater Manchester Police.

Trading Standards

Trading Standards objected to the application because of concerns about Mr Njad's history. Trading Standards noted that Mr Njad was the owner of Liquor Stop, 65 High Street, Brierley Hill, which had been the subject of six intelligence reports relating to the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes, and from which Trading Standards had seized illicit products. They further noted that Mr Njad's subsequent application for a licence for the premises had been refused by Dudley Council. Trading Standards provided the sub-committee with the minutes of that meeting. Trading Standards further noted that Mr Njad had been present at 7 Days (Long Street) Ltd, 77d Long Street, Middleton, when Trading Standards seized illicit tobacco and non-compliant vapes, and again one month later when they found a concealed compartment containing illicit tobacco. Trading Standards argued that:

Supplying illicit tobacco and illegal vapes undermines the Licensing Objectives in relation to the Prevention of Crime and Disorder. Mr Njad has been caught in premises in Dudley and refused an alcohol licence as he was found by them not to be fit and proper and then he was caught in other premises where illicit products were found.

Trading Standards requested that if the sub-committee decided to grant the licence, they add a significant number of conditions, including requirements for CCTV, staff training, and a Challenge 25 scheme.

Greater Manchester Police

Greater Manchester Police also objected to the application because of concerns about Mr Njad's history. GMP told the committee that:

At a recent Tactical Licensing Meeting, the application for the above premises was discussed amongst partner agencies. During those discussions, information stored on the Trading Standards National Database relating to Mr Njad was shared particularly details of incidents where at two separate locations, illicit tobacco and illegal vapes were recovered.

GMP argued that:

Supplying illegal vapes and illicit vapes completely undermines the licensing objectives namely The Prevention of Crime and Disorder. It clearly demonstrates that he has very little regard for law and legislation after he was refused a premises licence in Dudley, only to be found committing the exact same offences in Middleton, Manchester.

GMP requested that if the sub-committee decided to grant the licence, they add a significant number of conditions, including requirements for CCTV, staff training, and a Challenge 25 scheme.