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Wolverhampton gang fight pub with 'laissez-faire attitude towards security' closed down

A fight between two gangs at a Wolverhampton pub, that saw one member punched and another allegedly draw a knife, has prompted council bosses to shut down the venue for the second time in five months.

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The Harp Inn, in Walsall Street, Horseley Fields, was described by police as being 'on the gang circuit' of pubs in Wolverhampton.

Officers told a Wolverhampton council licensing meeting there had been three incidents of knife crime there in the past 18 months with the latest trouble taking place on January 16 and involving Heath Town's 'Firetown Crew' and 'Reans Crew'. its license was suspended pending a full review in 28 days time.

It comes after the pub was closed last August for a month for review, following a spate of violent incidents which included a doorman being stabbed in June 2014.

After the last review in August, the premises licence changed hands from Isaac Green and Afiyah Dalila to Garnett McLean.

CCTV footage of the latest ugly scenes showed troubled between two gangs, with one member allegedly being assaulted. It was also alleged that a knife was passed between the victim and his fellow gang members.

Premises licensee Garnett McLean had only gained the licence for the venue a month before the incident.

He said he did not call the police as he was trying to maintain calm and prevent members of the Firetown crew from re-entering the premises.

However, Sergeant Flanagan, of West Midlands Police's licensing department, said that the staff's "laissez-faire attitude towards security, with no discernible door policy and lack of basic knowledge of the licensing act poses a real risk to the public."

He said that the venue should be able to have a certain level of control over who enters the venue and make a call on whether to let in potential troublemakers

Mr Mclean said there was no way to ensure that gang members do not enter the pub.

"I have no way of knowing who are gang members and who aren't." said Mr McLean.

"Just because they may wear hoodies and caps doesn't mean they're part of a gang."

"I wear a tracksuit, that doesn't mean I'm a gang member."

The meeting also heard that Mr McLean had flouted conditions which included stopping former licensees Isaac Green and Afiyah Dalila from entering the venue. Both were caught on CCTV, one cleaning and one working on the bar.

Sergeant Flanagn said: "This pub is part of the gang circuit of venues in Wolverhampton and the fact is there have been three incidents of knife crime in the pub in 18 months."

Chairman of the committee, Councillor Alan Bolshaw, confirmed that the Harp's licence would be suspended pending a full review in 28 days' time.

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