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More on KentOnline
A shop known to police for selling alcohol to street drinkers could have restrictions applied to its licence.
The review of Upmart Convenience Store, in Gabriel's Hill, Maidstone, comes after officers witnessed the shop selling drinks to two drunk people in June.
The review could see the times it is allowed to serve alcohol restricted, the installation of comprehensive CCTV coverage and suspension of its licence for up to three months.
In its application for review, Kent Police said the shop has become a preferred location for early-morning street drinkers to buy booze and says this is fuelling aggressive and anti-social behaviour.
On June 5, an officer saw a drunk man stagger out of the shop with a can of high strength lager.
The PCSO's statement, included in the licence review application, said they could smell alcohol on the man's breath, his speech was slurred and while talking to the officer, he fell into them.
The officer entered the store and a member of staff confirmed she had served him alcohol, which was reported to the force's licensing officer.
She was given a fixed penalty notice and a warning letter was issued to Vegavanavel Sivothayan, the designated premises supervisor.
Despite prior warnings, constables witnessed another employee serve a woman they described as slurring her words and with the demeanour of a drunk person, around a week later.
A PC entered the shop and body worn camera footage showed staff bagging up cans of high strength lager for the woman, swaying side to side.
After the incidents, the officer with licensing responsibilities made several visits to the shop to discuss the issues with Mr Sivothayan and suggested minor changes to the licence should be considered to allow the premises licence holder, Mr Sivothayan's wife, Kavitha, to make necessary changes.
Kent Police's report said the pair have not taken any action.
The licence restriction application reads: "Kent Police believe, having exhausted all avenues with the premises licence holder, that seeking a review of the premises licence is now the only option left open.
"It does not believe the designated premises supervisor and the premises licence holder at this premises are prepared or willing to take any reasonable measures to prevent this, and as such are not upholding the licensing objectives."
It has requested several conditions to be enforced, including altering alcohol serving times from 6am - midnight to 11am - midnight, having at least one member of staff with a personal licence on duty at all times, compulsory licence training for all staff selling or supplying alcohol and the adoption of a Challenge 25 scheme.
The review will be heard on Wednesday at Maidstone Town Hall in the High Street.
The Kent Messenger approached Mr Sivothayan for comment but he was unavailable.
