Venue's licence to be reviewed after fight erupted

A private hire venue will have its licence reviewed at the request of police after failing to call 999 over a fight that left a man unconscious and being caught selling alcohol after hours.

Vaal & Vaal, in the Chapel Ash area of Wolverhampton, also failed to get permission to hold an event past midnight.

West Midlands Police said the venue, which has a licence to serve alcohol until midnight and 01:00 GMT on Bank Holidays, did not have a temporary event notice for the late-night party on 10 January and had not applied for one.

CCTV footage showed that the fight had taken place outside the venue at around 02:00 that was not reported to police, despite the man being left unconscious.

The force said it later received a report of a fight involving six men with "pocketknives" outside the venue at around 02:16 on 10 January, though officers did not later record any evidence of weapons.

Its report, published ahead of the meeting, said the venue had blamed an "admin error" while admitting to selling alcohol after hours – with the event lasting until 02:00 and CCTV showing drinks being served until 01:46.

Police requested the venue's licence be amended at the hearing on 17 March and its designated premises supervisor Harpreet Kaur Gill be removed.

West Midlands Fire Service also said the venue did not have a suitable fire risk assessment in place and needed to provide certificates for fire alarms and emergency lighting.

Police said security staff did not intervene or assist the injured person after the fight and the venue said it was only aware of the incident after the council had contacted them and CCTV footage was inspected.

The police report added: "During the meeting the premise licence holder advised that there is currently an application to extend the licensing hours at the premise, which had been recently submitted to Wolverhampton council.

"The premise licence holder explained how this was fundamental to their business, but showed little understanding or acknowledgment for the seriousness of the incidents which had taken place at their premises."

In its objections, police said Vaal & Vaal staff had taken responsibility for the incident but had "failed to uphold the licensing objectives" by not calling emergency services.

"This premise licence is recorded as a hair dressing salon, but is no longer operating as such, and is being used as an event space to host private events," the police report added.

"West Midlands Police are concerned of the lack of management at this premise and failure to notify changes to the premise and business, conditions on the current licence are not suitable for what the premise is being used for, and several of the conditions are not enforceable."

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