Royal Duke alcohol license revoked

Pitsea Estate residents joined with the licensing police, in a review of the 24 hour alcohol license of the Royal Duke Store at 474 Commercial Road, E1.

The licensing police officer, Mr Alan Cruikshank, triggered the review of the Royal Duke license on 22nd December 2009, on issues of Crime & Disorder, after HM Customs & Excise officers seized drinks which did not have UK duties paid on it.

Pitsea Estate Tenants & Residents Association (TRA) joined this review to raise other issues of Crime & Disorder; plus several other licensing objectives Public Safety; Public Nuisance and Health & Safety.

Residents of Pitsea Estate have suffered a wide range of problems since the 24 hour, seven days a week license to sell alcohol, was issued to the proprietor, Reshmi Patel on 22nd June 2006 - despite the TRA lodging objections to this.

Residents of Pitsea Estate were concerned that the 24 hour sale of alcohol so close to their homes would have a negative impact upon their lives, and encourage anti social behaviour and crime on the estate.

Since 2006 residents have had to endure groups of drunks, drug addicts, prostitutes and other dubious types, coming into estate communal areas and residential blocks, to engage in drink/drugs and commit acts of anti social behaviour.

Several residents have suffered from physical attacks and abuse from drunken patrons of the Royal Duke Store. This was despite residents reporting incidents and their concerns to Shadwell Safer Neighbourhood Team, the Housing department and the Anti Social Behaviour Team.

The cost of the damage over the past three years has escalated as caretakers have had to clean up vomit, urine and sometimes human faeces left behind from raucous behaviour, resulting from the off sales of alcohol. The Royal Duke Store has acted as a magnet for alcoholics, drug users/dealers and others from the area, as it is open all night.

Many parents on Pitsea, especially mothers have had to negotiate their children through vomit, cans bottles and other debris left behind on the estate. Debris left in the stairwells has posed a danger to residents using the stairs as debris

becomes trip hazards for the young and the elderly. Problems have occurred both day and night over the past few years to the point where the Tenants & Residents Association received constant complaints about the Royal Duke Store.

There has also been an increase in criminal damage on the estate as anti social behaviour, fuelled by drink from these premises has increased. The TRA highlighted that one particular set of windows was replaced 3 times after being smashed by drunk youths. There has been an increase in criminal damage to estate property by drunks roaming the estate, both day and night.

Pitsea TRA submitted evidence in the form of timed and dated photographs going back to 2006, showing all aspects of the problems residents were suffering. The photographic evidence was supported by witness statements in the form of email/letters etc. The TRA also submitted a petition signed by residents of the estate, protesting against the Royal Duke Store and the problems it was causing to residents of the Pitsea Estate.

At the Licensing Sub Committee Meeting of Tuesday 9th February, after presenting evidence to the Licensing Panel, both the police and residents from the TRA asked the panel to revoke the license to sell alcohol, in view of the criminal nature of the offence committed and the negative impact upon Pitsea Estate of alcohol sales form this shop.

Residents of the estate were glad to see that the licensing Sub Committee responded to the very real concerns of both police and residents, by revoking Ms Patels license to sell alcohol.