Police win bid to restrict new pubs and clubs in Southampton city centre

A new council policy will ban new licences or later opening, including for shops and takeaways in Bedford Place, London Road, Above Bar Street and Bevois Valley – unless applicants can prove they won’t add to existing nuisance and disorder.

Police claim those areas account for more than half the city’s crime from licensed premises.

They say the move will help reduce violence and criminal damage linked to drink.

Last year they named and shamed some of the city’s worst behaved clubs and pubs in a bid to get council chiefs to adopt the policy.

But industry opponents, and the council’s own environmental health boss, questioned the police evidence and warned it could keep new businesses out of the city.

Richard Baker, of Lockett & Co licensing consultants, said he had “grave concerns” about the incompleteness and lack of detail of police evidence.

“This policy will effectively prevent responsible new businesses from entering the market and competing with existing establishments who appear to have some operating difficulties should the police evidence be taken at face value,” he said.

James Anderson, a partner at Poppleston Allen solicitors, which has clients in the city, said he was surprised there was a lack of statistical evidence from the police to show a noticeable increase or decrease in crime and disorder in the proposed “stress areas” since new licensing laws came in three years ago.

Council environmental health manager Mitch Sanders said there was insufficient evidence of noise and nuisance from licensed premises within the city centre to support the policy.

Leading pub operator Punch Taverns said the policy shouldn’t restrict existing businesses from extending their opening times.

Polygon residents and the City of Southampton Society backed the police.

The city council unanimously approved the cumulative impact policy this afternoon.

Cabinet member for economic development councillor Royston Smith said: “At some point you have to put the brakes on and this gives us that opportunity.”

He said the policy was probably “long overdue” and would give the council a “new tool in its armoury” to tackle booze fuelled crime and antisocial behaviour.