Oxford Road shop faces booze licence review for wholesale stolen alcohol purchases

Thames Valley Police (TVP) has asked the council to review Oxford Food and Wine’s licence.

The shop is on 512 Oxford Road and follows in the wake of six other shops on the same street which have had their licences reviewed in the last few months.

READ MORE: Sixth Oxford Road, Reading store faces booze licence review

Declan Smyth, a licensing officer at TVP, said the grounds for review of the premises licence is to “address the wholesale purchasing of stolen alcohol by the premises licence holder/designated premises supervisor and other staff members at this premises”.

He said this behaviour “supports criminality and supports drug users with their habit”, leading to further thefts in the town centre and on Oxford Road in order to sell stolen goods to Oxford Food and Wines.

PICTURED: The application was submitted on behalf of Thames Valley Police Chief Constable John Campbell

The application was submitted on January 27 by Mr Smyth on behalf of TVP Chief Constable John Campbell.

Anyone who wants to make a representation in support or opposition to the review should do so in writing within 28 days of the date of the application to: Reading Borough Council, Licensing Section, Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU or email licensing@reading.gov.uk.

READ MORE: Shop gets super-strength booze ban after selling four cans of beer to child

These six Oxford Road shops had their licences reviewed by Reading Borough Council (RBC) in November and December 2020:

• Anrish News, no.102
• Today’s Express, no.107
• I&R Convenience, no.202
• Butts Convenience Store, no.205
• Willis & Short Newsagents, no.341
• K B Superstores, no.337

These shops were all handed super-strength booze bans, preventing them from selling beer and cider above 6.5 per cent.