AN Italian wine merchant is facing backlash from the police over his application to sell alcohol from a market stall in High Wycombe, because they fear the venue will be an “easy target” for thieves.
Mr Riccardo Amabile, of Durnsford Road, in Bounds Green, London, has applied for a review of a premises licence for his wine selling business, Amabile Since 1901, operating under the Guildhall arches, on the high street.
But Thames Valley Police (TVP) have objected to his application on grounds “itinerates and some of the ‘‘others’” in the town will steal from him “if they get the slightest chance”.
PICTURED: Council-owned views under the arches.
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Mr Amabile hopes to be granted permission to sell alcohol from a market stall between the hours of 8am and 11pm, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
However, concerns have been raised about the “security of alcohol” and that it will be an “easy target for theft”, especially if products are on display.
There is also concern about what happens to the alcohol “if the stall holder is away for any reason”, according to council documents.
PICTURED: Council-owned views under the arches.
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“We are concerned that the itinerates and some of the ‘others’ that we have in the town area are likely to see this as an easy target to steal from if they get the slightest chance, even if the stall holder is present and dealing with other customers, especially if products are on display,” wrote TVP licensing officer, Andy Dean.
He added: “If the stall holder is away for a reason and it [the stall] is being ‘kept an eye on’, then in our view it could be ‘Christmas’ and bottles of wine could well be disappearing.”
Conditions TVP would like considered include: only empty bottles on display; full bottles kept under the stall and protected by screens; tasting bottles “must be furthest from the public grasp”.
TVP also wishes to see ‘Challenge 25’ policy and signs present, and only valid UK driving licences, UK passports, or other valid national ID cards and passports accepted.
The matter will be discussed during a licensing sub-committee hearing, on June 10.
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