Calls to remove bar's licence after crimes on site

The licence for the bar has been temporarily suspended until a new hearing on 20 August

A city centre bar could lose its premises licence after the police recorded serious crime incidents at the site

Cambridgeshire Constabulary has requested the premises licence granted to Bar 42 on Broadway, Peterborough, be reviewed after what it described as “serious crime incidents”.

Last month, Peterborough City Council took action against the premises and temporarily suspended its licence following a number of violent incidents.

The authority said a woman was subjected to a serious sexual assault within the bar last November - and two further violent incidents took place on 11 and 20 July, when a man was hospitalised with a bleed on the brain.

Previously, Yasir Ali, the director of Bar 42, told the BBC he was “saddened at the decision” but “respect the paths that have to be followed”.

“We hope we can work with the relevant bodies to make Bar 42 a safe place for our customers to enjoy once again," he added.

'Inadequate management'

Peterborough City Council will hold a licencing committee meeting on 20 August to discuss the licence for the venue.

This comes after Sam Tucker, the chief officer of Cambridgeshire Constabulary, applied for an expedited review of its premises licence.

The police listed three “serious” crimes that took place at the bar, including the rape of a 17-year-old female on 5 November, report of a fight at the venue on 11 July and a case of grievous bodily harm following a fight on 20 July, which left a man with brain bleed and fractures.

In addition, the police said the rape suspect was identified to door supervision at the time of the offence, but door staff failed to detain them at the scene.

The police also said that during the incident on 20 July, the initial report came from Peterborough City Hospital confirming a male had been assaulted within the premises by four or five other males. No call was made by Bar 42.

The investigation identified that potential witnesses were forcefully ejected from the premises and suspects were able to leave the location unchallenged, police said.

In a letter, Supt Ben Martin of Cambridgeshire Constabulary, said: “Police are concerned that the recent crimes are of such severity and violence, including two that have occurred on the premises within 10 days of each other.

“The investigations indicate inadequate management of the premises including failing to apprehend offenders or preserve the scene.”

Members of the press and public have been excluded to attend the meeting next week.