West Watford store makes new attempt to sell alcohol (From Watford Observer)

Whippendale Food & Wine wants to sell alcohol from 8am to 10pm seven days a week

11:30am Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News By Mike Wright, Chief Reporter

A West Watford grocery store has made another attempt to regain permission to sell alcohol after being stripped of its licence two years ago.

Hertfordshire Constabulary is opposing the move by Whippendale Food & Wine on the grounds that antisocial behaviour has dropped around the shop since it stopped selling alcohol.

The store, formerly known as DKSR, in Whippendell Road, has applied to Watford Borough Council to be allowed to sell booze from 8am to 10pm seven days a week.

In a report to the council, Police Sergeant Marie White said the shop had initially lost its licence in March 2010 after police applied for it to be reviewed.

At the time officers proved that the shop had been selling booze after hours, to nuisance street drinkers - drunk people as well as underage teens.

The area around the shop had also been identified as an antisocial behaviour hotspot as a result.

Police Sergeant White said that since the shop had lost its licence antisocial behaviour had decreased in the area.

At the time DKSR was taken to court, its owner Srithas Sundralingham, had been the licence holder. Officers said from visits they had made in the intervening period it was clear he was still in control of the premises.

Since the licence was revoked the shop had applied for a new one under names of Mr Sundralingham’s wife and daughter Selvaranee and Mounisha Srithas, which were both rejected.

The current application has been made again under the daughter’s name.

Police Sergeant White concluded her submission, saying Hertfordshire Constabulary was still firmly against the shop being granted another licence.

She said: "It is our belief that, having repeatedly committed criminal offences under the Licensing Act 2003, that the granting of another premises licence could lead for further criminal offences and antisocial behaviour being committed."

The final decision will be made at a meeting of the council’s licensing sub committee on Tuesday, November 6.