Streatham White Lion pub's hours cut after attack on police

11:39am Monday 1st December 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A Streatham pub where a policeman trying to help a stab victim was attacked by out-of-control drinkers has escaped closure.

Police had to use CS spray to force back the angry mob that set upon the officer - who was left needing surgery on a badly dislocated thumb - inside the White Lion Pub in Streatham High Road on November 8.

The stabbing was the twelfth time this year police have been called to the venue.

But at a review of the pub’s licence on November 26, Lambeth Council let it stay open, deciding only to toughen the conditions of its licence.

The police advised the council’s licensing committee that in reducing the pub’s kicking-out time from 4am to 1am, and ordering it to heighten security and only serve drinks in plastic bottles and glasses, problems at the boozer could be stamped out.

Ten out of the 12 incidents - that included a doorman being smashed over the head with a glass by a drunk he was trying to eject - had occurred after 1am, officers argued.

The attack left doorman with serious lacerations to the face and neck, while in another assault a punter was left with a four inch cut to the head, the committee heard.

The seriousness of the incidents led it to ask why police - who had sought a court order to immediately close the pub following the November 8 stabbing - were not calling for the pub to be shut down completely.

Committee chair Councillor Alex McKenna said: “This was a stabbing. Someone could have lost their life here, a policeman has been attacked.

“There have been a number of other very serious incidents. Why are you not seeking closure?”

Inspector Richard Aitkin said the seriousness of the incidents needed a “proportional” response and he felt imposing the new conditions would no longer mean members of the public visiting the venue would be at risk.

Pub Landlord Ian Gough came under stinging criticism from members of the committee for his running of the pub.

The committee heard how on the night of the stabbing and police assault, security was insufficient, and neither of the licence owners were on the premises.

There was also no facility to search women entering the pub, which the police warned was a technique used by gang members to bring weapons and drugs into venues.

Mr Gough accepted the new licence conditions, which come into effect on December 22, and promised to work harder with the police.

However he argued the incidents were not the pub’s fault and anyone who caused trouble in the pub was not allowed to return. He also said staff were adequately trained to deal with such situations.

But Coun McKenna told him: “You should be in no doubt about how close you have come today to losing your licence.

“This is not the type of activity we like to see in any way across this borough.”