Club's licence suspended over police concerns

A Wolverhampton nightclub has had its licence suspended for three months over safety concerns following a stabbing incident.

West Midlands Police had called on City of Wolverhampton Council to review the licence for Oxygene in Queen Street, after accusing the club's owners of ignoring safety measures.

The force said the club had ignored measures that formed the conditions of its licence including not carrying out searches, ID checks or using hand-held metal detectors, not blocking anyone from entering the club after 03:00 and asking under 18s to leave at 21:00.

Rob Edge, representing club owner Alex Osiagor, said the incidents were "regrettable", but there was no evidence it was caused by the venue.

He admitted he had not dealt with them "in the best manner" however.

Osiagor said the security staff had subsequently been sacked.

As well as suspending the licence, the council told the club owner he could no longer hold under-18 parties and all events must be restricted for those 21 and over.

The club also had its closing time cut back to 03:00, with last orders an hour earlier, and was told every person entering the venue would have to be checked for ID by door staff.

The council's licensing committee heard the police received a call about a stabbing at the venue on 8 March.

West Midlands Police said CCTV footage could not be produced by security staff at the time of the incident and was incorrectly timestamped when retrieved weeks later.

It showed a fight outside the club's entrance which had been broken up by members of the public and security staff had not intervened, assisted or called police.

Police officers had also described a "moody" atmosphere and said the scene was "out of control" with youths in balaclavas acting hostile towards police.

In another incident, on 4 April, the police force said it found "400-plus young males" were in Queen Street which led to a fight breaking out.

Officer bodycam footage from that evening showed the club's owner and security staff unable to confirm how many people were in attendance.

Osiagor later told police the under-18s event was an invite-only party organised by students from Wolverhampton and the event had drawn huge crowds after being advertised on social media.

He said the crowds were then barred entry when the club reached capacity.

The committee heard a week later an 18th birthday party with an expected 150 guests, breached the maximum capacity of the venue by 40 people according to West Midlands Fire Service.

West Midlands Police said it had "lost confidence" in Osiagor to manage the venue and risk assess events properly.

It said the club's opening hours needed to be cut and licence suspended until all breaches were addressed.

Osiagor told the hearing: "I understand this is my last chance… It was not deliberate.

"The security company let me down and I take full responsibility, but I just ask for a chance to carry on doing what we are doing for the community."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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