heaven above
September 7th, 2004, 04:33 PM
Club shut by gang warfare
SHEFFIELD STAR
RIVAL gangs battling for control of a Sheffield nightclub have forced
police to use new powers to shut the premises down days after a
reveller was shot.
Escalating violence inside Element nightclub, Charter Row, prompted
the drastic action.
It is believed to be only the third time a venue has been shut down
in this way in England.
Officers made their decision after a 22-year-old reveller was shot in
the head three times in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The victim, who suffered two wounds to his face and one in his mouth,
was seriously hurt and treated in the Northern General Hospital.
The club was shut down at 10.30pm on Saturday when City Centre
Community Safety Inspector Shaun Morley issued a temporary closure
order in the interests of public safety. The case was heard at
Sheffield magistrates court yesterday when Superintendent Martin
Hemmingway, appearing on behalf of South Yorkshire's Chief Constable
Med Hughes, handed District Judge David Fletcher a seven page
statement of evidence detailing problems police have encountered with
the club since May. Supt Hemmingway told the court a "predominant
gang" controls activity in the club but another gang uses the
premises. He said: "The two rival gangs wish to play out their
rivalry in the club. There is a grave risk to public order if these
premises were to re-open."
The closure order also applies to the Fez Club, a smaller venue above
Element, which Supt Hemmingway described as the "same stage where the
rivalry will be played out".
After reading Supt Hemmingway's statement Mr Fletcher said he
was "quite satisfied" with the police case and granted the closure
order which states: "Closure is necessary in the interests of public
safety because of the recent history of public disorder and violent
incidents that have occurred in the premises or in the vicinity of
the premises and which are related to the premises."
Solicitor Martin Cowell, representing Element nightclub, did not
contest the temporary closure order during the 12 minute hearing.
The case will come before the licensing board at magistrates court on
September 28 when the final decision will be made on the future of
the Element and Fez clubs.
The owners of the club, who say they plan to have a meeting with
police, did not want to comment after yesterday's hearing.
After the case Supt Hemmingway told The Star: "It's a very
significant step forward in addressing problems of violence in the
city centre. We try wherever we can to work with licensees and owners
but the government has given us strong powers and we won't hesitate
to use them unless we have full co-operation."
07 September 2004
SHEFFIELD STAR
RIVAL gangs battling for control of a Sheffield nightclub have forced
police to use new powers to shut the premises down days after a
reveller was shot.
Escalating violence inside Element nightclub, Charter Row, prompted
the drastic action.
It is believed to be only the third time a venue has been shut down
in this way in England.
Officers made their decision after a 22-year-old reveller was shot in
the head three times in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The victim, who suffered two wounds to his face and one in his mouth,
was seriously hurt and treated in the Northern General Hospital.
The club was shut down at 10.30pm on Saturday when City Centre
Community Safety Inspector Shaun Morley issued a temporary closure
order in the interests of public safety. The case was heard at
Sheffield magistrates court yesterday when Superintendent Martin
Hemmingway, appearing on behalf of South Yorkshire's Chief Constable
Med Hughes, handed District Judge David Fletcher a seven page
statement of evidence detailing problems police have encountered with
the club since May. Supt Hemmingway told the court a "predominant
gang" controls activity in the club but another gang uses the
premises. He said: "The two rival gangs wish to play out their
rivalry in the club. There is a grave risk to public order if these
premises were to re-open."
The closure order also applies to the Fez Club, a smaller venue above
Element, which Supt Hemmingway described as the "same stage where the
rivalry will be played out".
After reading Supt Hemmingway's statement Mr Fletcher said he
was "quite satisfied" with the police case and granted the closure
order which states: "Closure is necessary in the interests of public
safety because of the recent history of public disorder and violent
incidents that have occurred in the premises or in the vicinity of
the premises and which are related to the premises."
Solicitor Martin Cowell, representing Element nightclub, did not
contest the temporary closure order during the 12 minute hearing.
The case will come before the licensing board at magistrates court on
September 28 when the final decision will be made on the future of
the Element and Fez clubs.
The owners of the club, who say they plan to have a meeting with
police, did not want to comment after yesterday's hearing.
After the case Supt Hemmingway told The Star: "It's a very
significant step forward in addressing problems of violence in the
city centre. We try wherever we can to work with licensees and owners
but the government has given us strong powers and we won't hesitate
to use them unless we have full co-operation."
07 September 2004