Two licences lost as Covid safety patrols continue at pubs in Black Country and Staffordshire

In Walsall alone, officers have visited 500 pubs since the start of the pandemic and two premises have had their licenses revoked.

Councillor Garry Perry, deputy leader for resilient communities at Walsall Council, said: “Throughout the pandemic officers from Regulatory Services’ Covid-19 response team have worked with pubs, focussing on the principle of encouraging, educating and supporting self-compliance.

"This has included regularly planned communications and approximately 500 face-to-face visits to pubs in the borough some of which have been carried out jointly with West Midlands Police.

"Officers have also undertaken more than 50 enforcement visits in response to complaints or intelligence received about non-compliance. Follow up to enforcement visits has resulted in the issue of warning letters, 13 prohibition notices being served and the review of two premises licenses, both of which resulted in the revocation of the licences.

"We continue to work together with businesses in the borough to ensure Covid-19 compliance for the safety of our residents.”

Meanwhile Wolverhampton Council officers said they have seen "minor breaches" since pubs reopened.

Cabinet member for city environment and climate change, Councillor Steve Evans, said: “Our Covid Support Team - comprising officers from environmental health, trading standards and public health - engaged with local hospitality businesses, along with other sectors, prior to reopening to ensure adequate Covid measures were in place and businesses understood what was required of them.

“Since the reopening, officers have been undertaking visits to premises across the city to ensure continued Covid compliance. Joint patrols with the police are also ongoing to ensure businesses continue to operate safely across Wolverhampton.

“Joint partnership working with public health and the police has enabled us to quickly identify problematic areas and take swift action. As a result, we have seen very good levels of compliance across the city. Where minor breaches have occurred, officers have been able to quickly spot and rectify the problems. The minor breaches typically involve customers not adhering to the rules.”

And Councillor Nicolas Barlow, Dudley Council's cabinet member for health and adult social care, said: “Our trading standards team carries out regular evening checks to hospitality, together with West Midlands Police.

“We have mostly found compliance to be good, with venues trying hard to operate safely and in compliance with Covid legislation.

“Whenever there are concerns, we work with venues to offer advice and support. Since hospitality has been allowed to reopen, none of our inspections have necessitated enforcement action.”

Meanwhile in Staffordshire the majority of businesses are complying with rules, the local authority said.

Staffordshire County Councillor Victoria Wilson, cabinet member for communities and culture said: “Hospitality businesses, and others such as hairdressers who need to be in close contact with people have to ensure they comply with health and hygiene regulations, and record the details of persons visiting.

"The overwhelming majority of these businesses in Staffordshire are complying with the rules and keeping their customers safe, and our trading standards team work with them to ensure they continue to do this.”