Bar could be shut down over fights and noise

A town centre bar could have its licence revoked after a police report found multiple alleged breaches, including several fights.

Suffolk Police has asked Ipswich Borough Council to review the licence of Bar A-Z on Great Colman Street after police found "multiple incidents of breaches" of conditions by the licence holder and designated premises supervisor.

Breaches included failure to prevent crime and disorder, public nuisance, and to protect children from harm, spanning from January to August last year.

The report stated it had no confidence in the management to "control the issues occurring" and cited a "total failure and lack of due diligence to abide by the conditions on the premises licence".

Sharon Betts-Palmer, the force's licensing officer, outlined several fights at the premises, including one that involved 12 people.

The report also outlined an incident at the end of April last year in which a drunk male was aggressive to bar staff and ejected by door staff.

However, licence-holder Hasan Demaj told officers the man had done nothing wrong and could go back inside.

Several noise complaints were made, citing breaches of the bar’s condition to keep doors and windows shut while live music or DJs were playing.

Despite an action plan being agreed upon and signed, officers found the premises to be in breach of conditions by having only one member of door staff on-site, as opposed to two.

Public Health Suffolk has also submitted a representation outlining "serious concerns" and supporting the police's recommendation to suspend the licence to allow conditions to be put in place.

Its representation showed the rate of accident and emergency attendance related to alcohol in this part of the town was higher than Suffolk’s and more than double that of Ipswich as a whole.

Council members will decide the outcome of this application on 8 October.

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