Charcoal Grill gets doormen in attempt to curb violence

Under an agreement with Arun District Council's licensing sub-committee, Charcoal Grill, the fast-food takeaway in the High Street, will stay open until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights and midnight from Sundays through to Thursdays.

The new opening hours will start on November 24 when the new licensing laws come into force.

Halil Gunes, owner of the takeaway, said that he wanted to extend the hours in order to cater for increased demand for food late at the weekends.

The unusual condition of the need for doorstaff, put by Arun on the application, was prompted by concerns by the police over the level of violent crime in and around the premises.

PC Dave Whitcombe, divisional licensing officer, told the committee that between March, 2003, and June of this year a total of 21 serious public disorder offences such as affray, actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm had been committed in or outside the Charcoal Grill.

PC Whitcombe also said that 90 per cent of these offences happened between midnight and 2.30am and door supervisors were urgently needed during this period.

The Charcoal Grill must also install and run closed circuit television (CCTV) covering both inside and outside the shop.

The door supervisors will be required from midnight to 3am.

On hearing the result of the licence application, Insp Mark Hammond of Littlehampton police said the new licensing laws give the police extra powers to enforce licences and actually make it easier to police them.

He said: "If there is anti-social behaviour inside or outside the premises and the management are not working to sort it out, I can issue a 24-hour closure order on the licensee.

"This is all part of our robust approach to licensing issues."

Mark Butler, Arun councillor for River Ward, in which the Charcoal Grill is situated, said: "The partnership between the licensee and the police is going to be paramount, because they have got to clear up any issues.

"The police have got few enough resources anyway and dealing with potential problems until 3am is going to stretch them further.

"I don't think the residents in the area are aware of the situation or what has been put forward and I will be surprised if they are not very vocal in opposition to it."