Stabbing at Wolverhampton pub on first night of late licence
A pub doorman was stabbed and left fighting for his life on the same night the venue in Wolverhampton made use of its late licence for the first ever time, it has emerged.
The Harp Inn, in Horseley Fields, was given the go ahead to open from 11am until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays by Wolverhampton City Council.
It had previously been allowed to open until 1.30am. The pub, in Walsall Street, had been given permission by the authority to allow the pub to stay open an additional two-and-a-half hours and used the licence for the first time on Friday June 6.
Doorman Ian Ramsey was stabbed at 2.45am.
Spokesman for the city council, Gurdip Thandi, said: "The Harp Inn began operating under its new licence conditions for the first time on Friday, June 6."
Under the new licence conditions the pub must have CCTV in operation which covers entry points and where alcohol is served or money taken.
Bosses must also keep an incident log for any problems that may occur at the pub.
In addition as part of prevention of public nuisance, two Security Industry Authority registered staff, one of which must be female, must be employed at the premises after 10pm.
Additional CCTV was installed at the pub yesterday in the wake of the stabbing.
Chair of the licensing committee at Wolverhampton City Council Councillor Bishan Dass said: "I will be looking into the conditions of the licence. What I know is that for the extension to be granted the pub must have shown a good record in the 12 months before last Friday.
"It must have also have had the support of the police."
Yesterday Craig Stanley Birch appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court accused of stabbing Mr Ramsey outside the pub.
Mr Ramsey remains in a critical condition.
Birch is charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, namely a knife.
The 31-year-old of Inkerman Street, Heath Town, was remanded in custody and will appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on September 3.
