Woman raped by up to four men inside nightclub as venues licence is suspended

A Birmingham strip club has had its licence suspended following a report a woman was ‘raped by up to four men’ at the venue.

The Rocket Club was subject to an emergency licence review hearing after police were called to investigate the incident over the weekend.

Birmingham City Council removed the strip club’s licence on Thursday during the urgent hearing, which was called for by West Midlands Police.

Papers presented at the Birmingham City Council licensing sub-committee stated the force received a call on Sunday, September 26, reporting that a member of the public had just been raped.

The force stated “up to” four males had “been involved” in the alleged rape, Birmingham Live reports.

West Midlands Police are investigating the report made by a member of the public on Sunday (file photo)
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Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A statement from Chief Superintendent Stephen Graham included in the papers stated: “On Sunday, September 26, a telephone call was made to West Midlands Police by a member of the public stating that [another member of the public] had been raped in the Rocket Club on Broad Street in Birmingham City Centre.”

Police told the hearing officers had arrested one man on suspicion of rape, who was on police bail.

Thursday’s hearing was held in private for the most part for legal reasons.

Councillors decided to suspend the licence of the venue, pending a full hearing at a later date.

The sub-committee’s chair, Councillor Nicky Brennan, said: “The sub-committee has deliberated and has come back into the meeting, and our decision has been to suspend the licence… pending the full review hearing.

“You will receive a full written decision with reasons by the end of today.”

Prior to the meeting going into private session, city council senior licensing officer Bhapinder Nandhra outlined the details of the application.

He said: “West Midlands Police have applied for an expedited review of the premises licence in respect of the Rocket Club.

“The application has been made under Section 53A of the Licensing Act 2003 as amended and has been accompanied by certificates signed by a senior member of the force.

“In accordance with the regulations, the licensing authority has given the premises licence holder and responsible authorities a copy of the application for review and a copy of the certificate.

“This hearing has been arranged in order to consider whether it is necessary to take any interim steps in respect of the licence pending the determination of the review.

“The interim steps that must be considered at the hearing are modification of the conditions of the premises licence, exclusion of the sale of alcohol by retail from the scope of the licence, removal of the designated premises supervisor from the licence or suspension of the licence.”

The Mirror has approached West Midlands Police and the Rocket’s management for comment

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