‘Spotless record’ saves alcohol licence of Gateshead store despite failing test purchase

A Premier shop in Bensham, Gateshead has been allowed to keep its alcohol licence despite being blamed for  a day of booze-fuelled youth disorder at Saltwell Park.

A PCSO called out to “numerous incidents” of drinking and fighting was told that under-age youngsters had bought their alcohol from Jenny Hall Convenience Store.

Gateshead Council officials claimed staff at the Brinkburn Avenue store later sold alcopops to a 15-year-old volunteer.

A report from Gateshead Council stated that on May 7 a test purchase was carried out and the youngster was sold two bottles of VK Blue.

When she was asked for ID and couldn’t provide it staff sold her the drink after she told them she was born in September 2002.

However, councillors sitting on the licensing sub-committee decided to let the shop keep its licence after hearing about its owner Ranjit Singh’s spotless record.

Speaking at the review Gill Sherratt, a licensing consultant representing Singh, said the alcohol was sold by his 18 year-old son who had only been working at the store for a matter of weeks.

She said: “He had a place for over 10 years in Newcastle where he served the community with no problems at all – he has an excellent track record.

“The whole family rely on income from the shop – it is their only source of income.

“Mr Singh does feel let down by his sons and he totally takes on board why he’s here and the concerns people have.

“The facts are not disputed and they had a family meeting that evening. This is one failure, one blot on his history.”

Sherrat said that Singh has spent a month putting improvements in place including subscribing to an e-learning platform for staff training.

He has also removed stickers from the window of his store to make sure that staff can see into the street.

In a statement to the council PCSO Julie McGow said that on April 24 she was called out to “numerous incidents” where 200 youths were “causing disorder” in Saltwell Park and the surrounding area.

At the time she was told by concerned residents that “large groups of under-age youths drinking and fighting at the bowling green” at the landmark local park.

That evening police received an anonymous tip-off that the young trouble makers had purchased their alcohol from Jenny Hall.

Representing the force Inspector Michael Robson said: “There is data about crime and anti-social behaviour in the area – that shop is at the epicentre of that.

“I’m not saying the shop is responsible for crime itself but it is concerning for me as a neighbourhood inspector that if they’re not robust enough to not serve alcohol to children then maybe they are also serving an adult who is drunk.”

But Sherrat said there is not enough evidence to prove the shop’s staff are regularly making under-age sales.

She said: “What we can’t do today is say the [say] they got it from Jenny Hall so that’s evidence because it’s not.

“Kids lie, they say the first thing that comes into their mind and Jenny Hall is well known locally.”

The committee allowed the store to keep its licence on the condition that it maintains a CCTV system that is continuously recording to a “good standard”.

Staff are also expected to adhere to a “challenge 25” policy where they ask anyone under that age for ID and to refuse to sell alcohol to anyone they suspect to be passing it on to children.

Finally the store will have to keep a refusals register and incident log.