Northumbria Police is opposing a new alcohol licence for a Whickham shop, citing past issues and concerns about crime prevention.
Whickham: Northumbria Police is not happy about a new alcohol licence for a local shop. They’re worried about past problems with the store.
The police wrote to the Gateshead Council about their concerns. The shop, Front Street Convenience Store, wants to sell alcohol again. But it had its licence suspended last year due to several issues.
During a visit, police found that the shop’s management was not following the rules. The person in charge was even outside the UK. Plus, someone working there was arrested for immigration issues.
They also discovered that the CCTV wasn’t working and that alcohol was sold without a proper licence. The police are worried that granting a new licence could lead to more crime.
The new applicant, Navya Saminathan Anandhajothi, claims the shop is a regular convenience store. They want to sell alcohol to enhance their services. But the police are skeptical about how the new management will handle things.
The local council will meet next Monday to decide on the application. It’ll be interesting to see what happens next.
