Two West Ealing Shops Lose their Licences

Number of serious incidents linked to Cudi and Broadway International

Two West Ealing food shops which have been the scene of numerous issues of disorder have lost their licences.

The police applied to the council to review the premises licence of Cudi Supermarket, 26, 26A & 26B Broadway, W13, and Broadway International Food Centre, 7 Broadway, W13.

After listening to 21 statements of support, including the public health authority, health and safety authority, the council’s community safety team, local residents and neighbouring residents’ associations. the sub-committee decided to revoke their licences.

Similarly, evidence produced for the application to review Cudi Supermarket’s premises licence also received widespread support.

Broadway International Food Centre, which sells a wide range of continental products, fruit and vegetable and alcohol, had seen a rise in the number of serious incidents over the past two years.

Those reported to the police included attempted murder, three grievous bodily harm and two common assaults. Most involved alcohol and more than 90% occurred between 11pm and 6am.
 
In July 2014 the store failed a test purchase when a member of staff sold alcohol to a minor. July 2015 a joint licensing visit to the premises by police and HMRC officers resulted in a large quantity of non-duty paid stock being seized.
 
It suggested criminality associated with the supermarket, such as supply of non-duty alcohol, assaults at the premises and sale of alcohol to a minor, had contributed to ongoing issues that had a negative impact on the area.
 
The supermarket, located directly opposite Dean Gardens, also had a history of failing to manage the business and comply with licensing conditions. In August 2010, a letter was sent to the designated premises supervisor after an inspection by council officers found fire extinguishers were in need of maintenance, in breach of fire safety regulations and licence conditions.
 
The evidence provided in both cases, and the Home Office guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, satisfied the sub-committee who decided the premises licences should be revoked. 
 
Pat Hayes, the council’s executive director for regeneration and housing, said: “The council and the police work in partnership to assist businesses to improve their performance and comply with licensing regulations. We must put the wellbeing of the wider community first and take tough measures to protect them against persistent anti-social behaviour. Criminality associated with these two premises has blighted the lives of the local community for too long and we welcome the decision to revoke their premises licence.
 
“We are grateful for the support of local people who gave evidence to the sub-committee. In addition, the police provision to enforce our controlled drinking zones and assist our efforts to make the borough safer for everyone.”

David Highton from West Ealing Neighbours said: '' Our concern was the impact on local residents, especially those many who are elderly and vulnerable living nearby, who have been badly affected by drunken and anti-social behaviour in and around Dean Gardens. 

'' The late night/24-hour licences of these two stores have been a contributory factor to these problems. West Ealing has suffered badly from people travelling here from across the borough to buy alcohol late night and then go in to Dean Gardens to drink it and then spill out in to the local area causing considerable trouble.

''Some local residents have had to put mattresses against windows to keep out the noise and others had to regularly call out the police to deal with rowdy and violent behaviour.  Without doubt there are other problems to be solved but WEN welcomes these decisions and the hard work of the police and other agencies in compiling the evidence we heard in these two reviews.''

In spring 2015, the council’s safer communities team launched Ealing’s partnership strategy to tackle anti-social outdoor drinking. This encompassed ‘Operation Bottle Top’, a dedicated police patrol service that identified a number of individuals, areas and premises for targeted enforcement.
 
Over the past year, police-led licensing reviews have resulted in the revocation of six premises licences. The police licensing team has also conducted a number of compliance visits in partnership with trading standards and HMRC, resulting in some significant confiscations of alcohol, including 1,020 litres of wine, 15,754 litres of beer and 197 litres of spirits.

Broadway International and Cudi Supermarket may appeal against the sub-committee’s decision to revoke their premises licence. Any appeal must be made to Ealing’s Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of the receipt of the notice of decision.

The businesses can remain open but cannot carry out licensable activities such as selling alcohol. The period for appeal has now passed and the court has received an appeal from Broadway International but not from Cudi. Broadway International can continue to trade pending determination of their appeal but Cudi should now not be selling alcohol. 

30th March 2016