Cops ask for review of Wetherspoons licence in Paisley after high levels of drunkness and violence

The Last Post in County Square has become the company’s first Scottish pub in history to face having its licence assessed after scores of incidents over the last year involving fights, drugs and abuse of staff and stewards.

At a meeting of Renfrewshire Council’s licensing board, police said staff were not acting quick enough in dealing with customers who were drunk, insisting they had been far too intoxicated on several occasions before anyone had intervened.

They also said the pub’s search policy and stewarding plan needed to be overhauled while expressing concerns about the level of training staff were getting around dealing with drunkenness.

Cops said they were not trying to shut the town centre pub down, but felt it needed to be made safer after they had been called out to a “considerable number” of incidents in the past 12 months.

“Our main issue is the level of violence and intoxication,” said Inspector Paul Cameron at the board meeting.

“There is a concern about the level of drunkenness inside the premises and the ability of staff or stewards to have that early intervention. Are we satisfied staff are getting the appropriate level of training?

“There are also concerns about the number of drug seizures. We’re concerned about the search policy in place, which is not working as well as we would expect it to be.

“We want to bring to the board’s attention the volume of incidents that just keep happening.”

Incidents which were highlighted by cops – all of which have taken place since August last year – included a fight which broke out after a funeral wake, a bust-up in the female toilets and a rammy outside the pub after someone had asked for a cigarette from a couple of other customers.

They also cited a man becoming “loud and aggressive” after appearing to take controlled drugs, a bag of white powder being found and drunk customers becoming aggressive after being refused service or entry.

Archie MacIver, from JD Wetherspoon’s representatives Brunton Miller Solicitors, insisted all issues had been dealt with appropriately by staff.

He added actions have been taken to try and prevent further incidents getting out of hand, such as an upgrade of CCTV and staff being given body cams.

He told the board: “During the year, there have been in excess of 250,000 people going through the doors and there are 22 I can see that the police class as adverse. That’s less than one incident a fortnight.

“One incident is one too many, I understand that, but that is a relatively low standing.

“A fresh risk assessment of the pub has taken place. They have ensured panic alarms are in place and used properly. There is radio contact between staff and stewards. There are body cams being used and the CCTV system has been upgraded.

“Stewards are on duty every Friday and Saturday night from 6pm and there are 10 or 11 staff on those nights. There has been stewarding introduced on other days of the week on a rotational basis. There are two managers on at closing every day and they report every incident to the police.

“Conflict and customer management training has been redone and anyone who is involved in an incident is barred.

“It is hoped these steps have stopped this matter going any further.

“It is rare for stewards in pubs to have a searching policy, per say. That’s just not how they operate. 

“Wetherspoon’s take anything of this nature very seriously. They have never had a review like this before in all the years they’ve been in Scotland, so this has caused a great deal of concern.”

As police had not outlined specific steps they wanted the board to take, members agreed to further consider the matter at a future meeting, which the next one due to take place on November 30.

However, Inspector Cameron outlined he wished to see the pub set out a robust stewarding plan and for staff to keep better tabs on people’s levels of intoxication.

Mr MacIver said the company would liaise with police ahead of the next hearing.

Eddie Gershon, spokesman for JD Wetherspoon, added: “Wetherspoon’s top priority is operating safe and welcoming pubs.

“We are pleased the board has allowed the police and the company the opportunity to address  the issues raised regarding a number of incidents at The Last Post.

“We have  always worked closely with the authorities when concerns as to the operation of our pubs have been brought to our attention and we will do so here.”