Final decision made on Rochdale nightclub as police come under fire

The police have been slammed as ’embarrassing’ by a licensing committee after a Rochdale nightclub shrugged off calls to shut down over alleged violent incidents.

Ko-Ko Lounge’s future was up in the air as a licensing sub-committee meeting gathered to decide whether the venue should keep its licence to sell alcohol. Greater Manchester Police previously called for the licence to be revoked following alleged incidents of ‘serious violence and disorder’ as well as under 18s being allowed in and being served alcohol.

GMP withdrew their application for a licence review ‘at the 11th hour’ – which the committee chair labelled ‘embarrassing’.

An ‘undertaking’ between GMP and Ko-Ko Lounge’s representatives took place and they agreed terms which ‘addressed GMP’s concerns’, the meeting at Number One Riverside heard on 3 October.

The Packer Street venue, which describes itself on social media as ‘Rochdale’s favourite nightclub’, will be able to cater for revellers just as they have done for many years following the decision.

The meeting itself became a platform for the licensing sub-committee at Rochdale Borough Council to quiz both parties on the agreement and why it has come about.

Paul Dixon, of Molesworths solicitors on behalf of the nightclub, explained that their client had agreed to change the security company that provided the door staff and that security staff would wear body cameras at all times. 

Mr Dixon added that due to the nightclub only hearing of the allegations 33 days after the fact, their CCTV system had already been wiped after the standard 30 day period. This meant there was no evidence of the allegations made, the meeting heard.

Mr Dixon went on to outline that Ko-Ko’s has a “rigorous and robust door entry policy” and denied that two girls under 18 were served alcohol in the venue, as alleged by police. To showcase their stringent entry policy, the solicitor pulled out three stacks of fake IDs the club had confiscated in recent months.

Chair of the sub-committee Councillor Phil Burke, said: “I am concerned that a factual statement from the police, which gave us serious concerns, was submitted. You (the police) said that the door staff were not using the radio system but we have heard today that the door staff are using it and they can prove it.”

GMP’s legal advocate in the room explained that the main concern police had with the nightclub was the door staff on duty at the time of the incidents earlier this year.

The force’s representative explained that one of the security staff had allowed the perpetrator of the alleged violent incident that took place on the doorstep of the club and ‘assisted’ his getaway.

“Changing security personnel addresses GMP’s main concern,” she told the meeting. This statement was repeated following a number of questions raised by the licensing sub-committee.

Councillor David Bamford asked why “on the 11th hour this has been withdrawn”. The councillor clarified that they take their job on the sub-committee very seriously and he reiterated their concerns over alleged ‘serious violent incidents’.

Councillor Phil Burke added: “You (the police) have seriously damaged the reputation of this premises in the town centre.

“We need to make our feelings clear that we are frustrated and annoyed at GMP. It’s not acceptable and we will take on board what Mr Dixon has said, that the evidence isn’t there.

“In future, if GMP comes to the committee, can they review the evidence properly rather than coming here and embarrassing themselves.”

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Burke made a statement which read: “We take our job very seriously here at Rochdale (licensing committee) and we are here to protect the people using the town centre.

“We have a good and vibrant town centre and have hard working licensees. Rochdale is a safe town to visit and if we come across any violent incidents we will take appropriate action and take it very seriously.”

In response to the criticism, the force explained that their legal services department and licensing officer all initially consulted each other around previous incidents before involving the licensing panel.

A GMP spokesperson said: “Following a number of incidents arising which Greater Manchester Police believed highlighted concerns, discussions were undertaken between the premises and GMP licensing. A number of measures were agreed to alleviate the concerns raised which subsequently led to the application being withdrawn.

“The measures agreed are currently being worked together in partnership with the premises under monitoring. We have considered the committee’s concerns regarding future instances and the important role they have.”

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter