Red flags raised over bid to restart alcohol sales at troubled Hartlepool shop

31 Northgate Hartlepool

Booze Bid Row: Police warn Hartlepool Borough Council that a Headland Shop application may not be ‘all it seems’....

3rd March 2026

Councillors are set to rule on a controversial bid to temporarily sell alcohol from a Headland convenience store after Cleveland Police warned the application may not be all it appears.

Hartlepool Borough Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee will meet on Wednesday morning to consider two Temporary Event Notices (TENs) for premises at 31 Northgate. The applications, submitted by Vasuki Navaraththinarasa, seek permission to sell alcohol between 8am and 11pm from March 10–15 and again from March 17–19.

Under licensing rules, a TEN normally allows short-term licensable activity without the need for a full premises licence unless responsible authorities object. In this case, Cleveland Police are said to have formally intervened, triggering a hearing before councillors.

Risks Undermining Key Licensing Objectives Police Claim

In papers prepared for the committee, police state that allowing the notice would risk undermining key licensing objectives, including the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm. Their concerns are said to be rooted in the recent history of the premises, which previously operated under a full licence that was revoked by councillors in August 2025 following repeated enforcement issues.

According to the police submission, the revocation followed evidence of illegal and non-compliant vapes being sold, underage sales of restricted products and a failure to maintain a working CCTV system accessible to authorities. Officers say these were serious and repeated breaches that raised significant doubts about the operator’s ability or willingness to comply with legal obligations and safeguard children.

However, it is the identity and connections of the new applicant that appear to have raised the most concern. Where Cleveland Police claims that during a Microsoft Teams meeting on February 10 with the licensing agent, it was stated the new applicant had no relationship with the previous business — but also indicated she is the wife of one of the former premises licence holders or designated premises supervisors.

Officers say they subsequently attempted to clarify the position by email but had not received confirmation at the time their objection was submitted. They warn there is a “clear and significant risk” the premises could in practice still be controlled or influenced by the former licence holder, either directly or indirectly.

The police representation goes further, suggesting the TEN application appears to be an attempt to circumvent the earlier revocation decision and allow licensable activity to resume despite the sub-committee’s previous findings.

In the application paperwork, the premises is described as a local convenience store employing local staff, with the applicant stating there will be no involvement from previous management and outlining measures such as staff training and CCTV coverage.

Because of the police objection, councillors must now determine whether the temporary notices should be allowed. Members have the power either to permit the events to go ahead or to issue a counter-notice preventing alcohol sales under the TENs.

The Licensing Sub-Committee is due to meet at 10am on Wednesday at Hartlepool Civic centre, when both the applicant and Cleveland Police are expected to present their cases before a decision is made.