On 5 June 2008 at Thames Magistrates Court, Ayse Guvec of Guzels Supermarket, 386 Kingsland Road was found guilty of knowingly allowing alcohol to be sold after permitted hours. Ms Guvec was fined £750 and ordered to pay £250 in costs with an additional victims’ charge of £15.

Ms Guvec was the Licensee and Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) of the premises on 29 September 2007, when alcohol was sold at 3.35am, more than an hour and a half after the premises licence permitted.

In court, Ms Guvec’s defence claimed that she had sold the business and was not responsible for the premises at the time of the offence. The Court did not accept that Ms Guvec had formally informed the Council that she no longer wished to be the licensee and DPS and found her guilty of the offence.

Cllr Alan Laing, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said: “Licensees and Designated Premises Supervisors must take full responsibility for ensuring their premises adhere rigidly to licence conditions including hours permitted to sell alcohol. Anyone wishing to surrender a premises licence or relinquish their responsibility as a DPS must inform the Council Licensing department officially in writing. Otherwise they may still be held liable for any offences witnessed at the premises whilst they remain the official Licensee and/or DPS.”

For any further advice regarding these issues please contact the Licensing department at Hackney Council on 0208 356 2431.





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