A Nottingham hotel has been closed down following action taken by the City Council and Nottinghamshire Police.
Nottingham City Council’s Community Protection team served a Closure Notice on The Stage Hotel in Gregory Boulevard, using powers contained within the Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, due to significant concerns over criminality, nuisance and anti-social behaviour.
The notice served on Tuesday denied access to the premises for 48 hours to anyone except the owners of the premises, those working or habitually living at the premises or existing fee paying guests, as well as officers from the council or Nottinghamshire Police. The effect of the notice was to prevent any new fee paying guests being admitted.
The council presented its case for a three-month closure of the premises to Nottingham Magistrates’ Court yesterday (June 28), supported by evidence from Nottinghamshire Police. The court heard that between November 2015 and May 2018 more than 100 incidents of concern had been recorded regarding the premises.
The court heard that criminal activity taking place at the premises included sexual offences, child sexual exploitation, assaults, domestic violence, public order offences, theft, drug related offences and other anti-social behaviour. Despite extensive engagement by the council, Police and other partner agencies with those connected with the ownership and management of the hotel, no improvement in behaviours have been forthcoming leaving the council no alternative but to seek the closure of the premises.
The Court granted the Closure Order which will take effect from 4pm tomorrow (June 29) at which point everyone will be required to leave. This is to allow the remaining guests to be vacated and to allow additional boarding up/security work to be undertaken by the owners, including turning off services. An independent security firm approved by the council will be appointed to ensure the on-going security of the property while it is closed.
The order prohibits access to the premises by any person for a period of three months, thus closing the hotel. Anyone breaching the order without reasonable excuse commits a criminal offence.
Portfolio Holder for Community Protection, Cllr Toby Neal, said: “There have been growing concerns about activity in and around The Stage Hotel, and working with the police, we’re pleased to have secured this Closure Order from the court.
“It will disrupt the significant criminal activities that were underway on the premises, as well as reducing nuisance for neighbours and increasing the safety of the victims of crime and anti-social behaviour.
“Nottingham City Council is committed to tackling all forms of anti-social and criminal activity and ensuring that those who manage hotels and similar premises understand their responsibility and accountability for behaviours that take place on their premises. Robust action will be taken in cases where those responsibilities are not met.”
Neighbourhood Police Inspector Rob Wilson said: “The Stage Hotel has been the location of a large number of incidents including serious crimes, nuisance and antisocial behaviour over the past three years. Together with the council, we’d tried working with the owners but insufficient change has been made. I’m pleased that it will now be closed as I believe Nottingham will be safer without it in business.”