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Booze ban puts end to residents’ misery

Adam Derbyshire
13/12/2006

A SHOPKEEPER suspected of selling booze to kids has surrendered his licence - and residents claim the move will finally end years of misery.

Families in Chester Avenue, Dukinfield, have suffered at the hands of gangs of youths for a considerable amount of time.

A covert police operation was put into action to gather evidence of under-age teenagers allegedly buying alcohol from Emma's Off Licence, Yew Tree Lane.

Fuelled by drink, yobs smashed windows, vandalised property and intimidated locals.

Following a joint crackdown by New Charter, trading standards, neighbours and police, licensing chiefs were set to revoke Yogesh Patel's licence at a hearing on Tuesday. But after last minute legal debate he decided to hand it in without a fight.

Mr Patel denies the accusations and claims he has been made a scapegoat for trouble in the area.

"We have a big problem with gangs of kids gathering outside drinking. It's a hotspot so they just want to close down the closest off licence, even though we do not sell to under 18s," he said.

"We have a zero tolerance approach. We have banned several kids from the shop for causing trouble. Then, their parents came in and were abusive so we banned them too. And because they can't get served they go running to the police and licensing panel in a bid to force us out.

"I didn't attend the hearing because it was a done deal. No matter what I pleaded they'd have revoked my licence, so I surrendered it instead."

Mr Patel failed to appear before the panel and checks were carried out to make sure all alcohol had been removed from the premises.

Police have pledged to keep an eye on the shop in the future.

Inspector Vinny Greener hopes the problems will now cease.

"Chester Avenue became a magnet for these gangs of kids and the residents have been subjected to drunken anti-social behaviour," he said.

"With the help of neighbours, we traced back to where we suspect they obtained the alcohol and then it was just a case of gathering the evidence we needed.

"We won't take our eye off the ball and we'll work with the enforcement team to ensure no alcohol is sold."

Ian Saxon, enforcement manager, said: "We could have gone ahead with the plan to revoke his licence, but surrendering it gets the maximum effect for the neighbours and it's immediate."

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "We're delighted and hope it will bring an end to the problems now."