Crime at Stafford nightclub leads to licence review
A nightclub in Stafford will have its operating licence reviewed following concerns raised by police over 'associated crime'.
Staffordshire Police applied for a review of Couture Noir et Blanc 's licence on the grounds of a 'high number of crime and disorder involving persons who have been at the venue'.
The force says most the incidents happened in the early hours of the morning.
Stafford Borough councillors will now hold talks on whether the club can continue to sell alcohol at its current operating hours between 11pm to 4am from Sunday to Thursday and 11pm to 6am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Trading standards have also been consulted.
Councillor Christine Baron said she was shocked to find out about the review.
She said: "I am quite surprised actually I haven't heard about anything happening there in the last few months.
"I have been out with the police on the night in Stafford and gone around the club, and I was not aware there had been any major incidents at Couture since it arrived.
"It must have been something very recently which has caused the licence to be reviewed."
The Forebridge ward councillor vowed to speak to police in the coming days to find out more about the problems.
Couture is renowned locally for hosting television personalities on a regular basis.
A report prepared for a council meeting on Friday states the reason for the license being reviewed as: "That the operation of the premises is undermining the prevention of the crime and disorder licensing objective, in that the premises is associated with a high number of incidents of crime and disorder involving persons who have been at the venue. Most of these incidents occur after 2am."
Richard Helsby, who is the current manager at Couture Noir et Blanc, said he did not want to comment about the matter and stated questions needed to be directed towards the club's lawyer Sarah Clover, a regulatory law barrister.
But a spokesman speaking on her behalf at Kings Chambers in Birmingham said Ms Clover would not discuss the case while it was still ongoing. However he said a full statement would be issued once the hearing had concluded.
