‘Blasé attitude to Covid-19’ could cost shop man licence
POLICE SAY OFF-LICENCE OWNER DIDN’T ENGAGE OVER CONCERNS
A SHOPKEEPER has been accused of displaying a blasé attitude to the coronavirus pandemic which could lead him to be stripped of his licence.
Police have asked councillors to review the licence of Uni, an offlicence in Western Boulevard, Leicester, because of a series of incidents linked to the shop in recent months.
The force says they have taken the step in the interests of preventing crime and disorder.
Police reports, which will be considered by the council’s licensing committee next week, say officers have no confidence in Nawzad Sharif-Nazhad to run the shop within licensing rules and say he has failed to engage with them over various concerns.
Force licensing officer Pc Jeff Pritchard said colleagues were called to the premises, near Bede Park, on December 6, after an argument over the sale of cigarettes where a customer said he had been threatened with a hammer and a baseball bat.
Officers found a baseball bat behind the counter but when they asked Mr Sharif-Nazhad for CCTV footage of the incident he said he could not work the system.
In another visit, officers found what they described as a “homemade weapon” of two poles sellotaped together.
When officers returned to Uni on December 17 they said Mr Sharif-Nazhad and another staff member were in the shop with customers but not covering their faces.
Pc Pritchard’s report said: “The premises’ licence holder displayed a blasé attitude towards the current pandemic regulations.
“He has repeatedly ignored warnings from Leicestershire Police and continued to breach the conditions of the city council licence.”
The police say he has shown a disregard for the law.
Officers also said he has smirked and been discourteous and unprofessional while they have tried to explain their concerns to him.
The police say a search of Uni, on December 17, found tobacco and cigarettes which they say were smuggled.
Mr Sharif-Nazhad’s solicitor has written to the council on his behalf and pointed out that no further action was taken by the police in relation to the December 6 argument.
The solicitor said the complainant was someone who had stolen alcohol from the shop and had only been asked to leave, not threatened.
The solicitor said the tobacco and the home-made weapon were issues relating to a former shop employee who has since been sacked.
The letter said: “Our client does not accept smirking or being rude on December 17.
“This may be a misunderstanding of our client’s slightly nervous disposition.”
The letter says the shop’s CCTV does work and that officers are welcome to see footage when they want. It asks that Mr Sharif-Nazhad be allowed to keep his licence and continue running the business.