Tiptree: Council rejects The Anchor owner’s licence bid

Colchester Council’s licensing sub-committee revoked the licence of The Anchor, in Station Road, Tiptree, at the request of Essex Police, after several Covid breaches were found last year.

Another meeting was held two days later requesting the licence be transferred from former licensee Anthony Parker to pub owner Kaye Murphy.

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Essex Police objected to the move, citing it as a “legitimate deterrent to other operators who seek to frustrate the legal process”.

A spokesman said: “It would, therefore, be the contention of Essex Police that in allowing the transfer, the licensing objectives, particularly crime and disorder, would not be upheld.

“It could even be argued that this proposed transfer is merely an attempt to undermine the review hearing and avoid any potential adverse outcomes."

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Reflecting the extraordinary circumstances of the case, police licensing officer Alan Beckett said this is the first time he has brought such a matter to the sub-committee in his five years on the job.

In refusing the proposal, councillor Mike Hogg said: “The sub-committee examined all the documents and evidence submitted, and considered the representations made at the hearing by Essex Police.

“We were particularly concerned by the approach which has been adopted by Ms Murphy throughout in relation to her lack of supervision of the premises.

“The sub-committee further felt that her failure to attend the hearing or engaging the process in any way did not provide us with any confidence that she would be in any position to uphold the licensing objectives in the future.”

Neither Ms Murphy nor Mr Parker attended the meetings.