CHRISTCHURCH councillors heard why a bar that police say has ‘actively promoted violence’ should keep its licence at a meeting on Tuesday.

Dorset Police’s application to review the licence of Cameron’s Club and Lounge Bar in Bargates was laid before members of the licensing sub-committee.

Licensing officer Louise Busfield said Cameron’s had “consistently failed” in upholding the licensing objectives of public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder.

She explained to the committee that a series of alleged incidents, including minor and serious assaults and anti-social behaviour, had been reported.

“Most shockingly”, some of the incidents were as a result of the “direct behaviour of staff”, she said.

Despite engaging with the bar’s management since January 2018 and making several recommendations for improvements, “the most significant changes” have only been made since the review application, she added.

“We have not instigated a premises licence review for some considerable time and do not do so lightly,” she told the meeting.

Solicitor Philip Day, representing Mr Jalal Hajabrahim, the owner of Cameron’s, made a case for why the bar should keep its licence.

He explained to the committee that Mr Hajabrahim’s son, Poria, was previously the designated premises supervisor (DPS) and the sole director of C.P.H.A. Club Ltd, which owned the premises licence. However, when Mr Hajabrahim became aware of the review proceedings he decided that “Poria should have nothing more to do with the running of the business”.

As well as taking over as the DPS in August, he also applied to become the premises licence holder. Mr Day said “things really started to change” at Cameron’s from that moment.

Members of staff who had been accused of “inappropriate behaviour” were sacked, a number of “known idiots” were banned, and a smart dress code was implemented, he said.

“Police are tarring Mr Hajabrahim with the same brush as his son,” Mr Day said.

He added the decision to ban his son from stepping foot in Cameron’s had “caused a degree of friction”.

CCTV footage of recent incidents at the bar was shown to the committee for two-and-a-half hours, at the exclusion of the press and public. The meeting then had to be adjourned.