A west London pub could be forced to close after staff allegedly “downplayed” an incident where a man was stabbed in the thigh.
Metropolitan Police has requested a review of the Frankfort Arms' premises licence on Harrow Road, after it was associated with a “serious crime” or “serious disorder” last week.
Officers attending the pub in the early hours of Saturday, May 17, were told by the manager that a scuffle had taken place, but no injuries were reported and all patrons had already left the premises.
But around 20 minutes later, police received a call from staff at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, informing them that a man had arrived with a stab wound to the thigh.
“No crime scene was put in place as the incident was significantly downplayed by the manager and security,” Met Police said. “They led officers to believe this was a minor scuffle yet someone was stabbed and had their injuries treated by the manager.”
The force added: “It was clear when officers originally attended that management were fully aware that a serious assault had taken place yet opted not to say anything.”
Westminster City Council will now consider temporary measures while a full review of the premises licence is underway.
These could include changing licence conditions, banning alcohol sales, removing the designated premises supervisor, or suspending the licence.
In the early hours of Saturday, May 17, police were dispatched to the premises after receiving a silent call from an unidentified caller.
Hearing an argument in the background, control room staff traced the number through previous calls, leading officers to dispatch to the scene.
Upon arrival, officers met with the manager of the Frankfort Arms, who reportedly said a “masked male entered the pub and there was a scuffle”, adding there “was no injuries and everyone had left.”
Met Police reported signs of a disturbance, including broken glass on the floor, but no blood was visible.
“No other member of staff came forward as a witness, and no one mentioned a stabbing or the presence of a knife,” they said.
At around 1am, officers received a call from staff at St Mary’s Hospital that a man had arrived at A&E with a stab wound to the thigh. They later linked him to the earlier incident at the Frankfort Arms.
Officers then went back to the Frankfort Arms to speak with the manager, who this time showed officers CCTV footage, which they claim makes “clear the incident was captured and this was clearly more than a scuffle.”
The manager reportedly told one officer that the victim’s friend barricaded the female toilet door and bandaged him, but told another officer that a bleed kit was used. They also advised police that the scene had been cleaned.
On Saturday afternoon, officers returned to the Frankfort Arms, where the manager clarified that it was actually him who bandaged the victim.
Officers were also made aware that security had seen a knife, but they “failed to tell police this and failed to give them the information needed to complete any initial investigation.”
In their application to Westminster City Council, Met Police said: “In just under three months there have been four other violence-related offences, two GBH and two ABH. Three of the four reported have been committed after midnight with one reported as late as 00:55.
“These incidents mentioned were all committed after the premises' terminal hour of 00:00.
“Given the seriousness of the offence, the serious nature of the injuries received, and the clear lack of control at the premises, the Police believe that the premises have failed to uphold the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective. It is also believed that the premises will continue to fail to promote the licensing objectives going forward.”
Craft Union Pub Company, which operates the Frankfort Arms, has been contacted by The Standard for comment.
