Police claim illegal Goodmayes party was 'celebrating murder'

The owner of the Basement Shisha Lounge in Goodmayes Road, Goodmayes, was ordered to close for 20 days and fined £1,000 after a party for more than 70 people held on September 26.

Officers claimed they were barred from entering by hostile men and had a fire extinguisher sprayed at them when they tried to force their way in.

In documents sent to Redbridge Council’s licensing committee, police constable Matt Brown claimed some patrons “said they were celebrating the murder of Matt Ratana” the previous day.

Matt Ratana was a 54-year-old sergeant who died after being shot at Croydon Custody Centre in the early hours of September 25.

Redbridge Council’s licensing committee will meet with police and owner Ajmal Ali next Wednesday (December 16) to discuss what to do about his licence.

Read more: Goodmayes shisha bar fined after fire extinguisher used on police

PC Brown said officers arrived shortly after 11pm on September 26 after reports of a party but were blocked from entering by a group of men.

He wrote: “Police were forced out of the door and onto the street by these males. The door was slammed shut and the males barricaded themselves inside the venue.

“Police attempted to regain entry but were sprayed with fire extinguishers.”

He claimed that when police were finally able to shut the party down, “up to 100 patrons came out of the small venue” and a “significant number of them were hostile to police”.

One man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an officer and, though the owner Mr Ali was not present, a deputy manager was found and handed the £1,000 fine.

Read more: Ilford landlord fined thousands for not buying £600 licence

PC Brown said he spoke to Mr Ali on October 9, almost two weeks after the event, and was told he was “rarely on site because of his family with poor health”.

He was told Mr Ali could not produce CCTV footage from that evening “because the hard drive was fried at the time”.

PC Brown added: “A number of residents have provided statements to the police in which they complain of late night parties.

“There appears to be no control at the venue whatsoever. There are serious Covid breaches where the public is being put at risk… (and) residents are constantly being disturbed.”

Emails from Mr Ali, also published by the council, claim many complaints about his business are “unfounded allegations” and that there are “many, many inaccuracies”.

Read more: Ilford Lane takeaway finally wins right to open later

In April 2019, he pleaded guilty to allowing people to smoke in an enclosed space at the lounge and was ordered to pay a total of £3,474 in fines, court costs and victim surcharge.

Speaking in September, council leader Cllr Jas Athwal said the incident at The Basement Lounge was “absolutely shocking and totally unacceptable”.

He added: "The owner showed a complete disregard for public safety and displayed just the type of selfish behaviour that will drive up our infection rate.

“Fortunately, thanks to our hardworking enforcement officers and local police, we were able to temporarily shut down the business and issue a hefty fine.”

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