Club Level 4 in Upper Edmonton is facing scrutiny as it seeks to extend its operating hours, a move that has drawn objections from the Metropolitan Police and the Licensing Authority, citing concerns over potential increases in crime, disorder, and threats to public safety. The police also reported an alleged incident of spiking of two women at the premises in early September.
The Licensing Sub-Committee of Enfield Council convened to address a variation of the premises licence for Club Level 4, situated at 35 Harbet Road. Shiraz Kamawal, the premises licence holder (PLH), has applied to extend operational and licensable activity hours and modify licence conditions. While the specific justification for these changes is not detailed, the application seeks to adjust several key aspects of the club's operation.
The proposed variations include:
- Sunday to Thursday: 12:00 to 04:00 (currently 12:00 to 03:30)
- Friday and Saturday: 12:00 to 05:00 (currently 12:00 to 04:00)
The Metropolitan Police and the Licensing Authority have formally objected to the extension of hours and modification of some conditions. PC Francis Peters, Licensing officer for the North Area BCU, stated that the police representation was made on the basis that the variation application does not promote the prevention of crime and disorder or public safety licensing objectives.
Hakema Lasmi, Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer, stated that the Licensing Authority representation was made on the basis that the variation application does not promote the licensing objectives.
Several proposed amendments to licensing conditions have also raised concerns, including:
- Increasing the permitted capacity of the premises from 500 to
500 Patrons excluding Staff
. - Reducing the number of first aiders required to be on the premises. The current condition requires a minimum of three qualified first aiders, while the applicant's proposal implies a desire for only one, a reduction both the police and licensing authority object to.
- Removing the requirement to employ a drugs sniffer dog. The premises has chosen not to outline a reduced schedule for use of a drug sniffer dog, and a revised schedule on when sniffer dogs will be present at the premises was not provided as discussed at the meeting on 9th October 2025.
According to the Public reports pack, a previous Licensing Sub-Committee hearing was held on 7 August 2024, following a serious incident at the premises. The 'serious incident' led to a Summary (expedited) Review of the licence, which the Metropolitan Police Service applied for on 10 July 2024, under Section 53A of the Licensing Act 2003. The Licensing Sub-Committee resolved to modify the conditions of the licence, remove the designated premises supervisor, and continue the interim steps taken on 12th July 2024 to suspend the licence for a period of 21 days until 28th August 2024. The hearing itself was a closed meeting. The decision notice can be found here: https://governance.enfield.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=217&MId=15116. The committee resolved to modify the conditions of the licence, remove the designated premises supervisor, and suspend the licence for 21 days.
PC Peters highlighted several breaches of the premises licence conditions, including a failure to display notices, a lack of drug detection equipment, and inadequate numbers of door supervisors. CCTV footage also revealed that the premises was operating past its permitted hours and that patrons were entering after the last entry time. Additionally, alcohol was sold beyond the permitted hours.
Ms. Lasmi also noted breaches identified during a meeting on 9th October 2025, including a missing drug policy, a failure to keep records of door supervisor checks, and a failure to retain CCTV footage for the required 31 days. A visit by the council's out-of-hours tasking team on 11th October 2025, revealed that no sniffer dogs were present and that refusals were not logged correctly.
Both PC Peters and Ms. Lasmi objected to the proposed extension of hours and the relaxation of conditions, arguing that the applicant had demonstrated an inability to maintain adequate control of the premises and staff. PC Peters stated that the breaches suggested an irresponsible management that did not appreciate the risks to public safety and the potential for crime and disorder. He detailed operational failings with the searching of patrons entering, and numerous breaches of the premises licence conditions relating to staff training for the evacuations of patrons, no written drug policy, no written search and refusal of entry policy, an ineffective use of the weapons arch and search wands, no record of checks of door supervisors accreditation with the SIA, insufficient traffic attendants on the road, CCTV could not be downloaded on that night, over 160 patrons were not searched that day, no evidence of a drug safe, ineffective staff training should an incident occur, no drug detection equipment was used, DPS was not monitoring the actions of security staff, ineffective or no staff training in relation to the sale of alcohol, ineffective use of club ID scanner. PC Peters stated that the failure of the PLH to follow the premises licence conditions, and his poor judgement in appointing a security firm with poor performance led to three individuals being stabbed and put at risk the lives of everybody in the premises that day.
Mediation is ongoing, with proposed conditions arising from the mediation attached in Annex 5 of the Public reports pack. However, several conditions remain outstanding, including disagreements over the permitted capacity, the number of first aiders, and the requirement for a drug sniffer dog. The Licensing Sub-Committee will need to make a decision on these outstanding issues.