An application by Dyfed Powys Police calling for a review of the premises licence at Tenby Rugby Club has been dealt with by Pembrokeshire County Council's licensing sub-committee.

Members of the licensing sub-committee met last Thursday (following an adjournment of the first meeting to discuss the matter) to determine the application which was submitted to the authority after calls for a review of the premises on Upper Frog Street had arisen from a series of serious events at the rugby club, including breaches of licensing conditions, underage sales of alcohol, a serious assault and failings in management.

Incidents of anti-social behaviour at and in the vicinity of the rugby club were listed among the concerns stated by Dyfed Powys Police in their calls for a review of the premises, including a serious assault that occurred on a 15-year-old boy back in February outside the club after the boy had been involved in an incident inside the premises.

Following the police and licensing authority reviewing CCTV footage of the assault and a number of photographs that clearly showed young people drinking alcohol inside the club, it was felt that there were serious concerns about the fact the premises did not appear to be complying with the licensing act and children were being exposed to harm.

Licensing officers and police officers also carried out an inspection of the premises during a Saturday when three international Six Nations rugby matches were being televised at the club, and on entering the premises, it was noted that there were no door persons on duty or any other persons controlling entry and checking the age of those entering, whilst seven persons under 18 years of age were identified consuming alcoholic drinks in an upstairs TV lounge during the visit.

At the meeting to determine the application, the licensing sub-committee decided that based on the mediation that had taken place which had involved modification of the conditions of the licence and the removal of the designated premises supervisor, coupled with the representations from the police that all concerns had been addressed, members were satisfied that all steps had already been taken to promote the licensing objectives and that there were no further necessary steps to take.

The sub-committee was also pleased to note the successful way in which the review process had been conducted.