Crack pipes, cannabis grinders and 3D-printed knuckle dusters were among items found at a Northern Quarter shop which has lost its premises licence, police said.
Police raid and closure
Tib Street Off Licence in Manchester city centre was raided by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) on June 1 after 'intelligence' from residents and businesses concerned about activities at the shop. The shop was hit with a closure order until September 3. Manchester council's licensing panel on July 23 decided to revoke the shop's premises license at a public hearing.
PC Stuart Hammersley from GMP licensing said at the meeting: “Local neighbourhood officers received intelligence reports from residents and local businesses regarding increased anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of the premises, drug dealing and drug use, concerns of stolen goods being received and sold through the premises, links between the premises and other criminal activity occurring in the Northern Quarter nearby.”
Items found during search
Officers found numerous items during the search, including nitrous oxide canisters, snap bags, crack pipes, cannabis grinders, illicit cigarettes, illegal disposable vapes, a 3D-printed plastic knuckle duster, a kitchen knife, and a baseball bat. PC Hammersley added: “These are not items that we would reasonably expect to find in a well-run off licence premises.”
Zahid Mahmood was named as the premises licence holder and designated premises supervisor (DPS) at the council licensing hearing on July 23. PC Hammersley said: “As a result of those items recovered, the premises licence holder and DPS was arrested on suspicion of possession of a class C controlled drug with intent to supply, possession of an offensive weapon, and handling stolen goods.”
Further searches and arrests
Subsequent searches were conducted at associated addresses. At the home address of the DPS and premises licence holder, a family member was present and a large quantity of cannabis was recovered. That person was arrested on suspicion of possession of class B drug with intent to supply. A further warrant at a friend's address of a family member, believed to be a part-time employee, recovered cannabis, multiple mobile phones, a large quantity of cash, and another offensive weapon. That person was also arrested on suspicion of drug supply and other related offences. The investigation is ongoing.
At the licensing hearing, GMP said the issues 'undermine' the licensing objectives around public safety, and that officers had been getting 'a significant number of complaints from residents and businesses' about the shop. A Manchester City Council official said the evidence demonstrated serious and fundamental failings in the management of the premises, and that the licensing objectives are no longer being adequately promoted.
