Liverpool: Police object to care firm running bar linked to stabbings

The Safe House can appeal against the decision within 21 days

Police have raised objections to a care company taking over the running of a bar linked to a brawl in which a young boxer was stabbed.

Anthony Dodson was seriously injured after a large fight outside The Safe House bar in Liverpool on 27 December.

The council voted to revoke the bar's licence but a bid was made to transfer it to a Manchester-based care firm.

Merseyside Police said it feared if that were granted the existing licence holder would remain involved.

Alongside Mr Dodson, three other men also suffered serious injuries, including a 21-year-old who was stabbed in the back and a 23-year-old who suffered lacerations to his head after being struck with a glass or bottle.

A 20-year-old man was later traced who had also suffered lacerations to the head.

Seven men have been charged to date over the incident. 

Liverpool Council moved quickly to suspend the premises' licence before moving to revoking it entirely, subject to an appeal.

Four men were hurt in the disorder, with one man critically injured

A three-person panel at Liverpool Town Hall in January agreed to remove the business' permission to sell alcohol after hearing evidence from police and owner Meshach Harris.

However, the bid was made to transfer the licence to the Manchester-based company Right-Step Ltd the day before the crunch hearing.

Police have objected to that move, with a fresh panel to be held next week, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Licensing Constable Nicola Ireland raised concerns regarding the transfer to Right-Step Ltd.

In a written submission, she said such a move would undermine licensing objectives of prevention of crime and disorder and questioned the role of Mr Harris in a new operation, which would mean "no material change to the operation".

PC Ireland added that there was "no indication" Right-Step Ltd had experience in running a licenced city centre premises, "which was a contributory factor in the failures of the previous premises licence holder."

Mr Harris' licensing agent Karl Barry said his client did not have to explain why the licence was being transferred and had done so immediately before the initial hearing in January.