AN off-licence could be forced to close after it breached a string of conditions relating to the safety of customers, crime prevention and underage alcohol sales.

Essex Police called on Southend Council to review the existing alcohol licence for Paso Wines, in London Road, Southend.

The council’s licensing sub-committee hosted a hearing yesterday - during which councillors voted to withdraw the license.

It means the shop could could shut for good. Owner Suleyman Karakas, 31, who lives in London, has the chance to appeal and could decide to stop selling alcohol in a bid to keep the store open.

Mr Karakas attended the hearing with a legal representative. His spokesman said: “When police first visited, there were difficulties and breaches and the licence wasn’t being operated in the way that it should be.

“But there has been a pattern of improvement at the very least.

“I can’t say that the licence has been operated in a perfect manner, but you have to look at what the overall history is.”

Conditions attached to the licence included maintaining a working CCTV system, and keeping a record of all alcohol sales which were refused by staff. It also stated that all employees should be trained in underage identification

Speaking at the meeting. licensing sub-committee chairman Roger Hadley said: “We found that on four occasions between August 2016 and March 2017 officers visited the premises and identified a number of breaches of conditions.

“We find that the licensee was in breach of his premises licence in that seven out of 11 conditions had been breached and he has failed to uphold the licensing objectives relating to the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm.

“We take this matter extremely seriously and in the circumstances we feel the licence should be revoked.”