Radcliffe: Hockey stick and machete seized in raid on shop

Metro Off-License, which trades as Texco Metro Express on Spring Lane in Radcliffe, was raided by Greater Manchester Police last week as part of the force's Operation Avro.

The raid was carried out after licensing officers managed to buy a non-compliant pack of 20 Lambert and Butler cigarettes from the premises in February. 

Officers involved in the raid discovered a blade as well as a hockey stick under the counter, which police said could cause “serious harm".

A number of vapes and cigarettes were also taken from the premises.

At a council licensing hearing today, Tuesday, Bury licensing officer PC Peter Eccleston said there would be no legitimate reason why a machete would be kept under the counter other than to cause serious harm.

READ MORE: Ainsworth farmer's plea after dog attacks sheep in field

Texco Metro Express on Spring Lane was raided as part of Operation Avro this month (Image: Google)

He said: “It is my opinion that an expedited review of the premises licence is necessary to allow the licence authority to impose interim steps not only for the safety of the staff, but also members of the public.

“It is quite clear for all to see, that they are unable to run the business within the limits of the relevant laws and legislation.

"Having a lethal weapon on the premises plus offering for sale illicit tobacco products is not in any way promoting the licensing objectives."

PC Eccleston was told by a man calling himself the owner of the business that the machete had been taken from a would-be robber, who had been reported to the police.

However, PC Eccleston said he could find no evidence of this report on police systems.

Trading Standards and the police found further breaches of the conditions of the licence including failure to display "Challenge 21" notices and a lack of designated premises supervisor (DPS) in place at the time.

Chair of the licensing hearing sub-committee Cllr Gavin McGill recommended that the shop have its licence to serve alcohol removed, along with its current, named DPS.

READ MORE: Bury Art Museum granted £500k to repair leaking roof

A machete and a hockey stick were seized from the shop (Image: GMP)

He said: “We have decided to suspend the licence and to remove the DPS.

"We felt that the bladed article, the machete, was there to be used in a crime against people.

“It was potentially very, very dangerous.

“This shouldn’t happen with a DPS doing their job, we thought they should be doing a much better job.”

The licence for Metro Off License was removed pending a full review meeting, to take place at a later date.

The owner of the premises was not present at the hearing.