ONE of York’s biggest nightclubs has been slated in a police report after crime rocketed by 1,050 per cent in the wake of cheap drinks promotions.

North Yorkshire Police are demanding a review of The Gallery’s licence, claiming the Clifford Street venue’s management have been putting their commercial interests above their licensing responsibilities.

One officer said in his 22 years with the service he had never known of a venue to have “this amount of regular disorder”, and others said customers leaving were often “like zombies.”

The report to City of York Council by licensing officer Mick Wilkinson states calls for police services rose dramatically when the new “May madness” drinks promotion was introduced in May.

Statistics produced by the Safer York Partnership said there was an increase of 1,050 per cent in crime associated with the venue in the 52 days after May 1 compared with the previous 52 days, based on figures available at that time.

A catalogue of 192 incidents recorded by police between January and October, include almost 50 incidents of theft as well as assaults on police officers, door staff and customers, glassings, drink spiking and arrests for customers being drunk and disorderly.

Police have noted incidents of large-scale fights where police resources had to be diverted from elsewhere in York and North Yorkshire and even recorded one incident of a man detained wearing surgical gloves and in possession of a meat cleaver at the rear of the club.

Sgt Fiona Willey said in a statement: “When I have witnessed persons exiting the Gallery nightclub I can only describe them as zombies – they do not know where they are, or some of them even where they live. In my opinion, this is purely down to alcohol intoxication. Which is down to the promotions they have on which encourages binge drinking.”

Her concerns are echoed by Sgt Jonathan Asvadi, who said of one occasion: “There were hundreds of people who were so drunk they didn’t know what to do when they were ejected. They just stood around in groups. Many were staggering around like zombies but there was a general, albeit slow, movement towards Nessgate Corner, Coney Street and then to McDonalds.”

The report notes that 120 out of 192 incidents happened at or after 2am.

The drinks promotion, which followed similar policies operated by club owner Luminar across the country, was marketed as “May madness”. A warning letter was initially sent by York Nightsafe which was followed up by an “action plan” being formally served in July.

The report said arrested people had admitted to police that the amount of alcohol they had consumed at the Gallery had led to their arrest.

One member of the doorstaff told an officer they had been instructed to let as many people as possible into the club, including those who would normally be refused entry, as it needed around 600 customers to make money.

Sgt Martin Metcalfe said: “I remember one particular incident in July where a male staggered out of the Gallery, laid down and was promptly pickpocketed by another male who we arrested. Upon me approaching the victim to inform him, he accused me of theft and started being aggressive to me even though I was simply trying to tell him I had recovered his phone.”

He said that as other similar clubs did not have issues on the same scale, he believed the Gallery was letting in people who “should not be in there”, serving too much alcohol to drunk people and “did not have enough door staff on”.

One police officer had this month still not returned to full duties as a result of suffering a broken elbow when dealing with a large fight at The Gallery on August 26.

Police are seeking a series of changes to licensing conditions, including:

• A new closure time of 2.30am, instead of the current 4.30am

• Digital CCTV to be installed to cover all areas where public have access to alcohol and the front of the premises

• A maximum of 500 customers to be imposed, instead of the currrent 775

• Glass bottles to be barred, with all drink in such bottles to be decanted into other drinking vessels

• If drinks are sold at less than £1.80, at least one bar must shut by 1am with others shutting by 1.30am

• Barriers to be placed outside the club an hour before it is due to shut, with two members of staff in high visibility bibs and the word “marshall” across the shoulder to be deployed.

People have until December 9 to make representations to the council about the police application.

The Gallery’s owner, Luminar Group, went into administration last month but The Press reported earlier this month that the club was to continue trading as a going concern while administrators Ernst and Young sought a buyer for the company.

An Ernst and Young spokesman said: “We will offer full cooperation during any review process.”

Catalogue of incidents

Police recorded incidents connected to the Gallery from January 1 to October 31 include:

• Male ejected on January 13 after brandishing a knife. Armed police deployed.

• Customer suffers a “full bite mark” to face on May 15.

• Customer criminally damages taxi on May 24.

• Large disturbance spilling on to street. Extra police drafted in on July 22. Police also note that after a female was ejected from the club for being too drunk, she was seen “projectile vomiting” in the street.

• Male arrested at back of club wearing surgical gloves and in possession of a meat cleaver on August 20. Arrest linked to a pre-booked travellers party. On the same evening customers reported to be throwing bottles at staff and large scale disturbance resulting in customers fleeing the venue saw The Gallery voluntarily closed early at 1.45am.

• On September 2, officers dealt with two reports of violence – one where the victim was headbutted and punched and another where the victim had his head “repeatedly banged against the pavement”.

• Of all the incidents there are 47 cases of theft and 15 cases of customers being arrested for being drunk and disorderly.

York Press: The Press - Comment

Impact of cheap drinks exposed

A REPORT by North Yorkshire Police damningly exposes the impact cheap drink promotions have on York’s nightlife.

Following the introduction of a “May madness” promotion at The Gallery nightclub on May 1, crime associated with the club leapt ten-fold.

In one incident, a man was arrested behind the club carrying a meat cleaver. Other cases logged included customers throwing bottles at staff, a woman projectile-vomiting in the street, a customer being bitten in the face, and criminal damage to a taxi.

One police officer, Sgt Fiona Willey, said those emerging from the club were often like zombies.

“They do not know where they are, or some of them even where they live,” she said.

The Gallery’s owners went into administration last month, although the club is continuing in business while administrators look for a buyer.

But police are now calling for a review of its licence, with restrictions to try to control the behaviour of clubbers. It would be wrong to single out only The Gallery.

Cheap supermarket booze and the proliferation of cheap drink offers at bars and clubs throughout York have contributed to a general culture which seems to accept binge drinking as acceptable. But The Gallery does seem to have been particularly at fault. We welcome the police report, therefore. And we hope that any new owners of the nightclub recognise they have a duty to ensure their customers have fun without getting so blind drunk they lose all control.

York Press: What do you think? - Click to comment