Club’s licence suspended for a second time
A NIGHTCLUB which has hosted music superstars Justin Bieber and Drake has had its licence suspended for the second time in six weeks.
Last month Salford’s licensing panel took action after a violent assault at Bijou in Chapel Street.
At that hearing, Pc Krys Urbaniak, the city’s licensing officer, said that in the past 12 months there had been five incidents at the club resulting in 10 people being assaulted – including a police officer.
The licence was suspended until a series of measures asked for by police have been implemented.
They included the replacement of the security staff at the club.
But now the panel has suspended the licence for a month after another hearing.
One of the conditions imposed at the earlier hearing was that training in recognising the effects and signs of consumption of drugs and other psychoactive substances would be given to staff.
Coun John Warmisham, chairman of the licensing panel, said: “We felt the club has still not carried out enough staff training.
“We feel the senior staff must do externally-provided training to keep up to date with licensing law.”
After the latest hearing the panel ruled there must be a policy agreed with GMP for the premises relating to illegal or ‘recreational’ drugs – including legal highs – found on persons or on the premises. Staff training must include identifying and preventing drug use at the premises.
There must also be a lockable drugs box at the premises to which no member of staff except the licence holder shall have access. All controlled drugs found at the premises must be placed in this box as soon as practicable. Whenever this box is emptied all its contents must be given to police for appropriate disposal. Owner Damien Matto said: “Since taking over the club in 2008 we have always striven to fully co-operate with the local police, the licensing authorities and the local community. A recent incident led us to carry out a full review of our security procedures and we now have a new security team in place. We were last week informed that the licensing authorities were suspending our licence for 28 days effective immediately. We fully accept the decision of the authorities.” Coun John Warmisham, licensing panel chairman