Warning issued after Wisbech town centre fight saw police call for review of three bar licences

A warning has been issued to the designated premises supervisor (DPS) of three restaurants and bars in Wisbech.

Police called for the licenses of three establishments to be reviewed after they alleged the DPS was involved in a town centre fight.

Fenland District Council held three hearings to review the licences and decided not to revoke them, but issued a warning to the DPS.

The three restaurants and bars that were subject to the reviews were Duke’s Steakhouse in Church Terrace, Hare and Hounds in North Brink and The Italian Affair in New Inn Yard.

A premises licence is required so restaurants and bars can sell alcohol to customers.

Papers published by the district council said Shahid Rafique is the DPS for each of the three establishments.

A DPS is responsible for the day-to-day running of the premises, and therefore needs to have a clear knowledge of licensing conditions to ensure they are complied with.

Police requested that licences for the three establishments be reviewed following an investigation of an incident they alleged Mr Rafique was involved with.

A report published by the district council stated that on Sunday, January 26, at around 3.20am, police received a report that several people were fighting on Market Square in Wisbech.

It said the incident is still being investigated, but that police believe Mr Rafique was involved.

Police asked the district council to consider removing Mr Rafique as the DPS for the three establishments, and to consider whether the licences should also be revoked.

The report added that a number of letters of support for Mr Rafique were also submitted to the district council to consider as part of the review hearings.

Three hearings to consider each review application were held in private on April 25.

A notice published after the hearings said councillors heard from the police, as well as legal representatives of Mr Rafique and the licence holders.

In all three cases the sub-committee decided not to revoke the licence, but issued a warning to Mr Rafique.

The decision notices said: “The sub-committee, having considered all the evidence, including the CCTV footage, determined that a warning should be issued to the designated premises supervisor, but considered that no further action is required in relation to the premises licence.”

The sub-committee did decide to add an extra condition to the licence for Duke’s Steakhouse, requiring all members of the management team to undertake conflict management training.