Hereford shop licence decision delayed

County licensing chiefs have postponed deciding plans for a Hereford corner shop to sell booze.

Applicant Hersh Mohammad wants to sell alcohol from 8am to midnight at Mila Polski Sklep on Belmont Road seven days a week.

Herefordshire Council’s licensing sub-committee was expected to decide the application on Friday but it was adjourned due to the lack of a legal adviser.

The scheme will instead be considered on August 2, 2019.

West Mercia Police and Trading Standards have objected to the proposals because the premises has a history of licensing breaches as well as the sale of illicit tobacco, alcohol and illegal immigration offences.

A Trading Standards officer said: “The evidence shows that we have reason to believe that Hersh Mohammad is not a fit and proper person to hold a premises licence or to uphold the licensing objectives as he was responsible for the business at the time when smuggled alcohol was found on his premises.

“He was also responsible and present in the store when food injurious to human health was seized by trading standards.”

A police harm reduction and community safety officer said the premises had a long history of being connected to criminal activity.

“The applicant has previously applied to have the premises licence transferred into his name,” the officer said in their report.

“This was subject to a police objection due to his involvement in the premises at the time non-duty paid alcohol was found (this matter resulted in the premises licence being revoked).

“As a result of the police objection to transfer the licence into the name of Hersh Mohammed the matter was brought to a licensing hearing.

“The application to transfer was refused.

“No appeal against this decision was made to the licensing authority.

“If this matter progresses to a hearing further information to support the police objection will be provided.”