Taxi Driver Online

Huddersfield cabbies demand takeaways shut earlier to cut violence

DRUNKEN violence will continue unless takeaways close at the same time as clubs.

That’s the opinion of taxi drivers who say they witness fighting every week in and around Huddersfield’s town centre takeaways.

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman yesterday called for an end to all-night boozing in the town, claiming it was an unacceptable drain on policing during the small hours.

But Makhan Singh, vice-chairman of Kirklees Hackney Carriage Association, says the trouble will continue if takeaways are allowed to continue to operate after the pubs and clubs have closed.

Many takeaways, including those at night hotspot Cross Church Street, trade into the early morning, hours after licensed premises have shut.

Takeaways may apply to Kirklees Council to trade between 11pm and 5am. If no objections are received, the council must grant such a licence.

Earlier this month police blasted town centre takeaways as a ‘honeytrap’ for trouble.

Police revealed drunken youngsters were still causing problems in the town centre at 6am and 7am, when people arrive for work at shops and offices.

Mr Singh agreed takeaways and their surrounding streets had become hotspots for drunken violence in the small hours.

He said: “I’ve seen so many fights outside takeaways. It’s not going to work unless they shut the takeaways at the same time.

“If people are waiting a long time in takeaways they then go across the street for a taxi and when they are waiting a long time for a taxi that amounts to violence. I see it almost every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night.

“On Cross Church Street there are so many takeaways it will cause a fight.”

Clr Christine Iredale, who chairs Kirklees Licensing Panel, said new licensing laws were to blame.

She said: “I think Barry Sheerman has a nerve. His Government voted these licensing laws in and he voted for it.

“I think takeaways are open too long, but I think we need to take each licence on its own merit.

“We’re stuck with the legislation that’s been brought in by Mr Sheerman’s Government. You can’t tell a venue that they can’t do things if the Government says they can.

“Closing the takeaways at the same time as bars is just going to transfer the trouble somewhere else.”

Kirklees Chief Inspector Vince Firth, (pictured) is responsible for licensing. He said: “We recognise that takeaways have a key role to play in reducing the number of incidents in the town centre on a weekend.

“In particular, we are working closely with establishments identified as having the most incidents occurring and have made recommendations for CCTV and door staff to ensure safety.

“Those which continue to encounter a high number of incidents will be subject to a review of their licence which could potentially result in it being revoked.”

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

All ours shut when the 2 clubs shut, the police make sure as well, but all this does is send folk to the Asda 24, tesco 24, and the 24 hour shell station, tesco 24,now shut there doors at 1 AM to 5 AM, this spreads the police resources instead of them being able to contain folk in one area

Surely people don't want a takeaway until the club has closed and they are going home



I have to agree with this. It's one of the worst decissions the government ever made



Surely there shouldn't be any drunken youngesters only drunken adults



Why are they waiting so long for a taxi? Is this one of the few areas that aren't flooded by cabs

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

When the new licensing laws came in I really thought it would help reduce aggro.

How wrong was i?

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IDFIMH

It's made it worse round our way to, the takeaways round our way close when the clubs close, some of them are still open at 5am with people still milling round when they've closed their doors. Make them close at 2am then there's no trouble.

when are they open then?....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Nice to hear the head of the licensing committee speaking sense;



If the MP has changed his mind, then good......why doent he ask his government to revisit licensing hours and give them back to magistrates?

CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

In the case of Tesco, not 24 hours. Is that a breach of trades discription? If they say they are open 24 hours shouldn't they be open?

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Grandad,

I think skippy is confusing this with his IQ



CC

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

No they where sick of the p iss heads nicking stuff and being abusive to the staff so they said feck it we will close for a few hours.

just ignore CC its his Tuesday night for getting p issed