STAFF have been accused of dealing drugs at a Southend nightclub which was raided by 100 police.

Officers have now called for a licence review of Mayhem, in Warrior Square, after compiling a dossier of some 1,000 incidents they have related to the club over the past five years.

The allegations include under-age drinking, assaults by doorstaff and rape. The review could see tough new conditions imposed, or the club closed.

The club was raided by 100 officers on Friday, September 21, after police received intelligence about Class A drugs being on the premises.

Sgt Danny Barnes, of the licensing department, said officers had to take action against the club.

He said: “As part of my role as head of licensing, it is for me to determine whether a premises is undermining the licensing objective.

Essex Police  are in receipt of various credible intelligence that suggests drug dealing is occurring in the premises.

“This intelligence also suggests members of staff were actively dealing within the club.”

No arrests were made during the raid, but a small amount of suspected drugs was found on the premises. Police have not revealed how much.

Sgt Barnes said: “There were drugs found in the premises after a warrant was executed and these were scattered on the floor.

“No matter what amount was found, these drugs were either purchased in the club or brought in undetected.

“We have worked tirelessly with the premises over the years and visited them with drug-testing machines.

“On all our visits the readings proved positive for drugs.”

Sgt Barnes said police had been called to the club for a string of violent incidents.

He added: “The working relationship with management has been very good.

“It is very sad to have had to come to this, but with all the information passed to me, I am left with little choice than to call a review of the licence and present the evidence to a Southend Council’s licensing committee so it can decide what action needs to be taken.”

The council will accept information from all parties involved before October 24, with a hearing expected in some time in November.