Pub stripped of its licence after violence
GoogleA pub has been stripped of its licence after an incident involving an unauthorised member of its door staff.
The attack happened at The Prince of Wales pub in West Bromwich in November after customers were physically assaulted with a weapon, according to West Midlands Police.
Rajinder Singh, 69, lost his licence after running the pub for more than two decades.
Mr Sigh's representative told the Sandwell Council licensing hearing the pub owner had been "misled" by "casual" staff.
West Midlands Police said one of the pub's door staff involved in the violent disorder did not hold a valid SIA licence and two of its bar staff did not have the right to work in the UK.
Door staff had used "excessive force" and "physically assaulted" customers using an offensive weapon on 16 November, according to the force.
It said a "police-style baton" was passed to a member of door staff by bar staff and was used in view of Mr Singh who did not call 999 "for a considerable time after".
CCTV footage of the alleged attack was shown in private but was described as "horrific" and "horrifying" by both police and licence committee member and Sandwell Councillor Richard Jeffcoat.
Duncan Craig, representing Mr Singh, admitted the CCTV footage of the attack made for "unpleasant viewing".
He blamed the owner's "old fashioned and outdated" methods for allowing the violence to break out and his declining health for the lack of intervention and said a "more professional and appropriate setup" would be put in place if the pub was allowed to stay open.
The venue was also backed by the West Bromwich Business Improvement District, which described it as a "responsible pub" and a "big part of the West Bromwich community".
The pub had its licence suspended on 19 November ahead of the full review by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council on 11 December.
This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.
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