By Ian Duncan Political reporter

Last updated at 18:10, Friday, 08 March 2013

Bosses of a bar where police have been called more than 100 times have been ordered to close it for two months.

Time Bar

Management at Time Bar on Botchergate, Carlisle, have had their licence suspended amid concerns about the number of violent incidents linked with it – including one where a woman was seriously injured after being thrown through a glass table.

Club owners were unable to provide CCTV evidence on several occasions to help with police investigations and there were also complaints relating to excessive noise inside the premises.

Members of Carlisle City Council’s licensing committee ordered the suspension of the licence for the nightspot at a hearing yesterday – time they hope management will use to get their house in order.

Its bosses have said that they will use the period of closure to refurbish the nightspot and address the issues raised.

Inspector Mark Gilroy told the hearing the venue had 124 calls for police attendance in a two-year period – more than those at other nightspots Outrageous and Walkabout combined for the same period.

He said there were three breaches of the licensing conditions: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and the prevention of public nuisance. He said: “Numerous incidents at the premises, including ones where serious injury has been inflicted, the CCTV cameras have either not been switched on to capture evidence or evidence has been erased or lost.”

Police initially were concerned over the number of incidents as far back as 2010 and Inspector Gilroy said that three meetings had been arranged between officers and club bosses to try to address the situation.

“Time Bar is the smallest club and open for the least amount of hours yet has the largest call for police service,” he said.

He added that violent and dangerous individuals were being allowed to literally “walk away from the premises and evade justice”.

Ben Greenslade, from Time Bar, said that not all of the incidents could be directly linked to the bar.

He questioned statements made by various police officers claiming them to be statements of “opinion and thoughts rather than facts”.

He said there had been problems with the operation of the CCTV system due to a leaking roof and added that steps would be taken to fix it.

He added that he always tried to provide the requested CCTV evidence and did not agree with the accusation that he had tried to erase evidence and cover up crimes.

In giving his verdict Councillor David Morton, the panel chairman, said there had been substantial cause for concern and added: “The streets of Carlisle ought to be safe. We are here not necessarily to protect the premises, we are here to protect the public to have the right to go about the streets safely.”

He said that revoking the licence was a “serious issue” and members had opted for the two-month suspension of the licence instead.

Inner doors will also be installed to reduce noise escaping from the club and the CCTV system should be fully operational and accessible by the police.

Speaking after the hearing Dan Greenslade, the designated premises supervisor, said it was a fair assessment and added: “The committee have heard the facts and they’ve deemed that we are fit to remain open.”

First published at 18:06, Friday, 08 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk