Publicans 'feeling under attack' after police action

By ceve carl eve crime reporter

A PUBLICAN has renewed his call for a night-time economy manager to represent pubs and clubs, after police called for the emergency review of a city bar.

Tam Macpherson, boss of city pubs The Clipper and The Counting House, said the "expedited review" of Maxine's bar on Union Street – the first such review in Plymouth and only the second in Devon and Cornwall – had caused great concern across the city's licensing trade.

He said: "The police have used every tool in their box to restrict our businesses for the last three or four years. I advocate the protection of the public and whole-heartedly support police in preventing crime. However, using this bit of legislation is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Publicans I've spoken to in the last few days are now saying that it's not a question of who they go after next, it's a feeling that we're all next."

Mr Macpherson originally made the appeal in July as keynote speaker at a licensing symposium in the city.

Last week's review of Maxine's, held before the city council's licensing committee at the request of the police, resulted in a number of additional conditions being placed on the bar in advance of a full review. It followed an incident outside the bar on November 15 which left three men unconscious and three more arrested on suspicion of assault.

Renewing his call for an evening night-time economy manager to act as both a lobbyist and an independent advocate for the lucrative industry, Mr Macpherson claimed the latest police action has made publicans feel "ostracised and under attack".

He said: "If this continues, there will be no partnership between the enforcement officers and the licensing trade in the future.

"Other cities have a designated night-time economy manager who speaks on behalf of not just the licensing trade, but all the organisations involved in the night time economy.

"They work with the local authorities and the police on issues like street lighting, refuse, CCTV, hamburger and kebab stalls, taxi ranks, not just the pubs, clubs and casinos. They lobby on behalf of and understand the night-time economy as a whole, recognising it's value and worth to a city.

"It's been successfully implemented in other cities, but Plymouth is just avoiding it. There is no real independent voice of the hospitality trade in Plymouth.

"Instead we have this heavy-handed approach. I have spoken to numerous licensees who feel the same, but they say that if they stand up and speak out they'll then be victimised."

In response, Insp Gary Neeves, patrol inspector for the south and central sector, said police "don't enter into using this power lightly". He said: "It's only used when we've got experience of serious violence at a premises. We work well with licensees across the city, particularly those in the night-time economy area, where we recognise that it's only by working together we can we provide a safe and enjoyable environment for people to go out.

"I can recall policing and using Union Street 30 years ago and it's changed – it's a much better place now. That's come about from the license trade acting responsibly and making the best of their environment, the police trying to make it a safe place and the city council working with us all."

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