Crime-fighting agencies have joined forces to respond directly to community concerns - closing a Maesteg pub that has been a “hot-spot” for crime and disorder.
The New Hibernian public house, Llwydarth Road, Maesteg has been ordered to close for ten weeks due to repeated and serious levels of anti-social behaviour.
Evidence presented to a special hearing on Wednesday March 2nd by South Wales Police and Bridgend County Borough Council was so overwhelming, it was decided the New Hibernian should be subject to “Premises closure powers” under the Anti Social Behaviour Act. This has resulted in the pub being closed for ten weeks and making it an offence for anyone to enter the building without prior permission from the local authority.
Safer Bridgend Community Safety Inspector Steve Rees said: “The case once again demonstrates how effective partnership working can be and how important it is that residents play an active role in eliminating the issues that affect their communities. It also sends a clear message to licensed premises that crime and disorder will not be tolerated and agencies do have the power to gather strong evidence and close them down if necessary.
“The New Hibernian has been the focus of a multi-agency campaign following complaints about activities on the premises and the behaviour of its customers".
“South Wales Police received reports from residents and visitors to the area that their lives have been made a misery due to the way the premises has been managed. Most complaints related to underage discos where blatant underage drinking resulting in related anti social behaviour, rowdiness, vomiting and abuse were occurring until late into the night. Evidence of children as young as 13 being extremely drunk at the premises was also introduced".
“As a result of this information a policing operation was put in place and the combined evidence from numerous officers, residents and visitors has been used to take joint enforcement action against the New Hibernian.
“We have tried to engage and work with the occupiers but with no success. In fact police officers were so fearful regarding the disorder and underage drinking they felt the premises had to be closed with immediate effect".
“As a result joint action has been taken by the community safety partnership to bring about this action".
“This has been a massive undertaking involving the community safety partnership licensing and anti social behaviour teams, Neighbourhood Policing Teams and the local authority legal department".
“The initial complaints were followed by a policing operation that identified extreme and blatant underage drinking associated with teenage discos resulting in local residents’ lives being made a total misery".
“The occupiers of the New Hibernian have consistently refused to engage and work with the police despite repeated efforts and have shown total disregard for the law!
“The license is also under review but the behaviour was so worrying that police officers felt it essential to try and close the premises as soon as possible".
Numerous residents provided statements and around 20 attended Court to provide evidence or support. This evidence was so overwhelming that the District Judge was satisfied all the necessary points in law were fully met and he closed the premises for ten weeks.
Deputy Leader of Bridgend County Borough Council, Cllr David Sage, said: “This is an important example of how effective partnership working is.
“We could have worked in isolation, with residents making complaints and the police responding to them, while the Council and other agencies continued their work.
“Instead, we assessed the impact this premise was having on the community and each agency looked at the powers they had and what they needed to do to secure evidence to tackle the problem once and for all.
“We want the residents of Maesteg to have a social facility such as the New Hibernian, but we want it to be part of the community, not a blight on the community and it was clear this venue had become that".
Inspector Ralph Harris of the Maesteg Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This venue generated considerable community concern and my staff spent a lot of time in the area responding to incidents, taking details of concerns and responding to incidents".
“It was thanks to the bravery of residents and intelligence gathered via various police operations that we were able to get the ball rolling on this important enforcement action".
“This action provides essential and immediate respite to local residents and creates an opportunity to review the license whilst the property remains closed.”
“We want this facility to be a safe and legal one and will work with the owners to ensure they put in place the measures, managers and staff needed to offer a robust, professional service to the whole community of Maesteg.”
Inspector Rees added: “We have a large number of licensed premises, pubs and bars in Bridgend and the majority are run responsibly. But where there are continual incidents or complaints about a pub and other measures have failed we will take the necessary action. We want everyone who comes to Bridgend to have a safe and enjoyable night out.
“Local residents were delighted with the outcome. This excellent work comes on the back of significant reductions in reducing late night economy related violence and anti social behaviour across the Borough".
“South Wales Police, the Council and its partners at the Community Safety Partnership is committed to Improving the quality of life for our communities and make Bridgend a safer place in which to live, work and visit by reducing crime and the fear of crime.”