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07:00 - 13-May-2008
The Rouge club in Witham, formerly known as Zebra, was temporarily closed down by police last month using fast-track powers amid concerns of serious organised crime.
Now licensing councillors in Hull have gone one step further by revoking the club's licence.
They heard how drug dealing in the club had gone largely unchecked for at least two years.
Andy Woods, representing Humberside Police, told the hearing: “We believe that removal of either the designated supervisor's licence or the manager's licence is not enough in this case.
“We say the whole team, from the premises licence holder to the cloakroom attendant, were unable to prevent the sale of class A drugs on the premises.
“The police say it was not being prevented or controlled.
“On that basis, we are satisfied full revocation is the only appropriate way forward.”
The police seized cocaine and ecstasy during a raid on the premises last May and then launched a criminal investigation into owner and operator Simon Atkin.
The hearing was told Mr Atkin was subsequently cautioned and warned to improve the club's policies on drug dealing.
However, in a series of visits to the club earlier this year undercover police officers managed to buy cocaine and ecstasy.
Giving evidence, Mr Atkin said he was “devastated” to discover police had been able to buy drugs inside the club.
He also claimed he was “let down” by an independent security firm that provided door security at the club by failing to vet customers properly.
Mr Atkin said if he or members of staff found drugs they would be confiscated but not handed over to the police.
He said: “If I did see anything I would throw it in the river, especially if it was cocaine.”
But sub-committee chairman Councillor Andrew Percy said: “We revoked the Rouge club licence because we believed it was a necessary step in adhering to the objectives of the Licensing Act.”
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