Earl of Dudley Arms pub shut down by police over 'gang' claims
A pub in Dudley which has been plagued by violence and 'gang activity' has been shut down by police.
Senior officers moved to close the Earl of Dudley Arms in Wellington Road to put a stop to criminal behaviour which they say is linked to the premises.
Police have been called to the pub more than 60 times over the last two years and said it had become a hotbed for serious crime involving gangs. Attempted murder, wounding and robbery were all listed among crimes that had all taken place on the premises. A man was badly beaten during an attack during December, which proved to be the final straw.
Police chiefs said the owners had failed to protect customers by 'allowing members local gangs to frequent the premises'.
A 23-year-old man was left fighting for his life in May 2014 after being stabbed as violence flared outside the Earl of Dudley Arms.
Christopher Perkins underwent emergency surgery and spent five days in hospital after being knifed outside the pub. He suffered a collapsed lung, a cut to his other lung and the sack surrounding his heart was cut.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Hanson, from West Midlands Police Force CID, said: "The licence holder of Earl of Dudley has a duty to protect his customers but he has failed to do that: he has allowed members of a local gang to frequent his premises and commit serious acts of violence towards innocent customers.
"In the latest incident earlier this month a man was badly beaten inside the premises. Two men have been charged in connection with that attack and await trial."
The pub will stay closed until the end of March after a closure notice was granted at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court.
DCI Hanson said: "We understand that the closure of this pub will mean people losing their jobs and that the licensee will be significantly financially affected. However, the magistrates were convinced that the immediate closure was the only way to keep people from being harmed."
