A takeaway faces a licence review after police were called to a catalogue of violent incidents including a customer attacking men with a wooden plank and a 10 person brawl. Shah’s Pizza on Bradshawgate in Bolton has been at the centre of what Greater Manchester Police describe as ‘unacceptable levels of crime and disorder’ in recent months.
According to a police witness statement published by Bolton Council this week, the takeaway, which remains open until 6am at weekends, has been the location of 18 reported police incidents between December 12, 2021 and June 19 this year.
The witness statement by PC Brookfield ahead of the licence review, said the incidents included a 10 person fight inside the takeaway where a woman was assaulted, a man arrested while smashing the takeaway windows and a man hitting people with a belt.
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On another occasion police were called to an alleged theft when a person dropped money on the floor and a woman picked it up and refused to hand it back.
On May 29, PC Brookfield described a ‘targeted attack’ where a gang of men arrived in a car and tried to assault a man, CCTV shows a potential victim running outside from the takeaway ‘swinging a wooden plank, hitting the males’.
On June 11 this year the statement describes a violent incident both inside and outside Shah’s when a man holding a broken bottle began threatening another man. The statement said CCTV footage showed bouncers from another bar intervened to calm the situation over a period of several minutes.
PC Brookfield said this ‘stopped a potential fatal ending’.
On Sunday, June 19 this year at 6.36am PC Brookfield said customers were still congregating outside the premises and an incident happened after which a woman was arrested.
Another incident report to the police described a woman being assaulted while stood outside Shah’s. The victim had been speaking to a man when a female emerged from the takeaway, dragged her to the floor by her hair and repeatedly punched her in the head.
During the assault the victim reported that her mobile phone had been stolen.
The statement concluded: “Due to a combination of the management attitude to licensing objectives, an inconsistent door supervisor policy and gangs of males congregating inside and outside the premise Shah’s has become the violence hotspot of Bradshawgate.
“There has been no improvement despite advice to the owner and it is a significant factor in disorder in the town centre.
“I have spoken to the owner Mr Hussain but he is not receptive to changing his opening hours although it’s clear the period between 4am and 6am is volatile and the premises cannot control the disorder from its customers.”
A panel of Bolton councillors will hear evidence and make a decision about the licence review at a meeting on Friday, September 9.
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