Wakefield pub licence hearing after man suffered fatal injuries in alleged assault
West Yorkshire Police has requested a hearing after a serious assault at the Red Lion left 62 year old Tony Powles fatally injured
A pub in Wakefield is to have its licence reviewed following the death of a man after an alleged assault at the premises.
West Yorkshire Police has requested a hearing following the fatal incident at the Red Lion, on Batley Road, Alverthorpe, on October 9.
Tony Powles, 62, died in hospital 13 days after later, on October 23, and a 27-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter.
Police have called for a Wakefield Council licensing sub-committee to carry out a review of the premises, run by Punch Taverns, on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder.
A statement by licensing officer PC Toby Warden said: “The incident was witnessed by the manager who, following the assault, has cleaned the area, potentially destroying forensic evidence.
“On initial enquiries, police were unable to download footage from the CCTV system present and no calls were made by the premises reporting the incident to the police.
“There is also suspicions that the manager, who had been working during the evening, was under the influence of intoxicating liquor.”
PC Warden added: “West Yorkshire Police believe this falls well below the standard of management required to run a licenced premises and shows a serious failing in the promotion of the licensing objectives with the lack of controls in place.”
Councillors have powers to revoke or suspend the licence after hearing representations on December 4.
One member of the public has commented on the police application.
They said: “I wholeheartedly agree with this application. I can say there is nothing but problems at the pub with people fighting, anti-social behaviour etc.
“During the summer holidays and in warm weather the pub is packed with kids playing not only on the car park but also near the main road all day.
“At times there are people walking up the street with a full pint of alcohol in their hand.
“We have seen people being chased up the street to be attacked and kicking out time is awful as there is always someone who is very loud, which is not good when you have a job to go to the next day.”
Punch Taverns has been contacted for comment.