heaven above
September 28th, 2004, 11:59 AM
Armed warfare at club Sheffield Star
DETAILS of (black) gang warfare and bloodshed that forced a Sheffield city centre nightclub to close have been revealed for the first time.
A catalogue of violent incidents at Club Element on Charter Square, including a shooting and three stabbings, are outlined in letters from a top police officer.
Supt Martin Hemmingway said in letters to Sheffield's Licensing Board that violence and intimidation at the club were the worst he had known.
He said: "I have not encountered such an openly dangerous situation associated with any nightclub in my four years' experience of policing clubs in Sheffield city centre."
He also claimed that attempts to persuade the owners to voluntarily shut the club on public safety grounds were refused because they said they didn't want to lose takings.
Supt Hemmingway's letters formed part of a police objection to the renewal of the club's public entertainments licence.
In them he said: "There has been violence and disorder inside the premises and immediately outside. In several cases this has involved the use of weapons, including guns and knives, with the victims sustaining life-threatening injuries."
In the last incident, on September 4, a man was shot twice in the head and once in the mouth inside the club.
Most of the trouble has been on Friday nights when outside promoters have run R'n'B nights.
Magistrates granted the police an order that closed the club and the associated Fez Club which operated from the same premises. Both have remained closed.
The order was expected to go back before magistrates this afternoon for review.
Three men were stabbed at the club on July 9 during a mass brawl involving more than 30 men, according to witnesses. The victims refused to make a formal complaint although two were said to have "life-threatening" wounds.
Mr Hemmingway revealed a "revenge attack" was planned at the club the following Friday night.
He said: "A number of men who are known to police both through conviction and intelligence were in the immediate vicinity of Club Element and officers informed me that 'trouble was brewing'."
More than 20 police, some wearing riot gear, were sent to the club.
Mr Hemmingway said police surveillance had revealed that a gang had effectively taken control of the premises through involvement with venue promotions and "security activities". He said rival gangs had mounted attacks on the controlling gang.
Councillors deferred a decision on the application to renew the entertainments licence until October 8 following an appeal by solicitor Martin Cowell, on behalf of club owners, City Wild Ltd.
28 September 2004
DETAILS of (black) gang warfare and bloodshed that forced a Sheffield city centre nightclub to close have been revealed for the first time.
A catalogue of violent incidents at Club Element on Charter Square, including a shooting and three stabbings, are outlined in letters from a top police officer.
Supt Martin Hemmingway said in letters to Sheffield's Licensing Board that violence and intimidation at the club were the worst he had known.
He said: "I have not encountered such an openly dangerous situation associated with any nightclub in my four years' experience of policing clubs in Sheffield city centre."
He also claimed that attempts to persuade the owners to voluntarily shut the club on public safety grounds were refused because they said they didn't want to lose takings.
Supt Hemmingway's letters formed part of a police objection to the renewal of the club's public entertainments licence.
In them he said: "There has been violence and disorder inside the premises and immediately outside. In several cases this has involved the use of weapons, including guns and knives, with the victims sustaining life-threatening injuries."
In the last incident, on September 4, a man was shot twice in the head and once in the mouth inside the club.
Most of the trouble has been on Friday nights when outside promoters have run R'n'B nights.
Magistrates granted the police an order that closed the club and the associated Fez Club which operated from the same premises. Both have remained closed.
The order was expected to go back before magistrates this afternoon for review.
Three men were stabbed at the club on July 9 during a mass brawl involving more than 30 men, according to witnesses. The victims refused to make a formal complaint although two were said to have "life-threatening" wounds.
Mr Hemmingway revealed a "revenge attack" was planned at the club the following Friday night.
He said: "A number of men who are known to police both through conviction and intelligence were in the immediate vicinity of Club Element and officers informed me that 'trouble was brewing'."
More than 20 police, some wearing riot gear, were sent to the club.
Mr Hemmingway said police surveillance had revealed that a gang had effectively taken control of the premises through involvement with venue promotions and "security activities". He said rival gangs had mounted attacks on the controlling gang.
Councillors deferred a decision on the application to renew the entertainments licence until October 8 following an appeal by solicitor Martin Cowell, on behalf of club owners, City Wild Ltd.
28 September 2004