Cwmbran pub is ‘magnet for crime and disorder’

The Square Inn on Gwent Square became the only pub in the town given a red rating in May 2009, meaning it is a serious concern to officers, Cwmbran magistrates were told.

Torfaen council revoked designated premises supervisor, Iain Crockett’s licence on December 17 last year.

This followed an average of four calls a week to the premises in the first nine months of the year. Mr Crockett is appealing against this decision.

For Mr Crockett, Philip Kolvin QC, said a number of steps have been taken to address this situation.

These include closing the basement nightclub, banning 50 known troublemakers, offering to trade no later than midnight, keeping a bar diary and employing a licensing officer to scrutinise the business.

Mr Kolvin said: “There is now a manager (Teresa Harris), who eats, breathes and sleeps the pub. Mr Crockett comes here to admit his own management failings.”

But, Torfaen’s licensing officer, PC Jim Aitken, called efforts “a little late”, describing it as a “magnet for crime and disorder”.

He said: “We have no faith in the management because of the history. It is tainted by what has gone on.”

Cwmbran neighbourhood inspector Kevin Warren said: “We have given it opportunity after opportunity, but there has been no improvement. Since December’s review, there have been three serious GBHs.”

Gwent Police Crime reduction disorder officer PC Darrell Dewar said The Square “has been a significant problem in Cwmbran for many years”, adding it requires a new management structure “from top to bottom”.

Cwmbran Shopping operational manager Ian Hopkins said his security team has had to deal with incidents in the beer garden day-to-day, describing it as “very intimidating”.

Representing Torfaen council, Jeremy Phillips said: “The past crime and disorder is so wholly unacceptable in degree and duration, it is not possible to look on it in the way the applicant desires.”

Proceeding.