PUBS and clubs in Suffolk Coastal are being given a new one-off MOT-style inspection to make sure they are safe and legal.

PUBS and clubs in Suffolk Coastal are being given a new one-off MOT-style inspection to make sure they are safe and legal.

The service is being provided by a new partnership with officials from a range of agencies swooping on premises and assessing them together - rather than the same place being visited a number of times by different officials.

Suffolk Coastal council cabinet member Sherrie Green said: “This is an excellent example of how by working in partnership we can provide a better service to both the public and our licensed premises.

“In one visit we can carry out a detailed check of whether the laws are being complied with regarding issues such as food and drink, fire safety, noise, and under age drinkers. This new approach is about ensuring that those standards are being met with a one-off MOT style inspection.”

The Suffolk Coastal Licensing Partnership has been prompted by recent new licensing laws, which passed much of the responsibilities on controlling licensed premises on to councils, and is the first of its type in the county.

It carried out its first joint inspection when officers from six different groups inspected all aspects of a pub in Woodbridge.

The results are still being assessed, but the inspection did raise a few issues that will now be taken up with the pub and future checks will be carried out to ensure the necessary improvements and changes have been made.

Sergeant Neil Reid, of Suffolk police, said: “We believe this new initiative, working in close partnership with all the responsible authorities, is a real strength.

“Our aim is to ensure compliance with the conditions of an individual premises licence and improve good operating practice, which should lead to reductions in crime and disorder and increased feelings of safety for communities.

“Where premises are shown to be causing problems within a neighbourhood they can be dealt with appropriately via various methods of enforcement under the legislation and this could even result in a review of the licence, resulting in more robust conditions being imposed.”

The SCLP includes the fire service, trading standards, police, environmental protection, and food safety.

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