Pub's licence under review after stabbing

The Railway Inn, Harwood Street, which has a licence until 03:30, has received complaints including over noise and littering

A pub could lose its late-night licence after police said workers failed to call 999 following a stabbing outside the premises.

The Railway Inn on Harwood Street, West Bromwich, faces a review by Sandwell Council on 14 October after the incident, which officers said involved some of its patrons.

West Midlands Police said it was called by hospital staff at 05:15 BST on 13 September after they treated a man who said he was attacked outside the pub following an argument.

The licence was suspended five days later at the request of police ahead of a full hearing. The pub, which can currently open from 08:00 until 03:30 every day, has also seen 26 noise complaints in five years.

The council's licensing committee will meet in Oldbury and has the power to suspend or strip the venue's licence.

It was temporarily suspended at a behind-closed doors meeting on 18 September, which heard the licence holder only found out about the stabbing when police turned up at her doorstep later that morning.

The venue's supervisor had left at 03:00, before the stabbing took place, it heard.

'Residential street'

The minutes from the interim hearing also said "there was an element of naivety" from licence holder Donna Marie Shields as she was "unaware of her responsibility in terms of security staff, staff and dispersal of patrons".

Of the incident, police said CCTV had shown "little or no action" from staff or bouncers to disperse crowds or call 999.

"The victim and offender were patrons of the venue," the force said.

It added it was mindful the venue had a "very late licence in what is a residential street" and had received reports from residents raising concerns about the behaviour of patrons in the street.

Sandwell's environmental team also supported a review of the licence, saying the 26 complaints included five this year.

Complainants said the venue frequently hosted events involving loud music and patrons raced cars and motorbikes and blocked roads and pavements.

The pub's licence lists Ms Shields as the licence holder since May 2019. The hearing was told the stabbing was the first time she had experienced a serious incident.

Ms Shields argued the closure of the business would "harm the local community who deserve to drink and relax in peace," the minutes said, adding she acknowledged an action plan was necessary.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.