Police have placed a closure order on a Whittlesey pub and warned people they could be arrested if they turn up and cause any disorder.

A police spokesman said; “Members of the public are being asked not to attend a pub in Whittlesey this evening.

“Due to concerns around anti-social behaviour, nuisance and disorder, police have placed a closure notice on the Railway Inn in Station Road, Whittlesey.

“The pub will be closed for trading this evening, including any private parties.

“A dispersal order has also been issued, preventing anyone from being in the immediate area of the pub.

“Those who fail to comply with the orders may be subject to arrest.”

The pub has recently been subject to a licensing hearing by Fenland District Council.

Fenland District Council’s licensing committee has taken action after hearing evidence submitted by the police alleging drug taking, drug dealing, underage drinking and fighting at the pub.

The claims were strongly denied by landlady Kerrie Facer, who has run the pub for almost four years. She said police regularly attend the pub and have never found drugs or evidence of underage drinking. The pub provided police with CCTV footage at times of alleged fights to prove they did not occur, she added.

Licensing committee chairman Councillor Michael Humphrey said: “We have accepted the evidence given by PC Phil Richardson which showed clear breaches of the three licensing objectives in respect of prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and public nuisance.

“While information was presented regarding protection of children from harm; we found that the evidence was not sufficient to justify concerns in relation to this objective.

“There has been no evidence to suggest that the current designated premises supervisor has played any active role in the management and conduct of the premises and that the current tenant/manager Kerrie Facer has done little to tackle or address the situation.

“We have determined that the present designated premises supervisor should be removed with immediate effect.

“Star Bars and Pubs Limited undertake not to seek the appointment of a replacement designated premises supervisor until the current tenancy with Kerrie Facer has been terminated and she has vacated the premises.”

Last month Ms Facer, a single mother-of-five, said the pub had done everything in their power to “satisfy” the licensing team, including reducing their licensing hours.

She said her pub had a policy of accepting everybody and she was “unaware” of drug dealers on the premises.

She said: “We regularly have police attend at all times of day and we have never failed a drug swap test. Every time police have attended and ID’d customers, they have never found anyone underage drinking.

“If police think someone in the pub is a drug dealer, why haven’t they given me a name or an image? Together, we could have worked to filter them out. They are suggesting I’m allowing it to happen. I’m confident there are no drug dealers in my pub, and if there are, they have certainly not made themselves known to me.”

Fenland District Council’s licensing committee has taken action after accepting evidence submitted by the police alleging drug taking, drug dealing, underage drinking and fighting at the pub.

The claims were strongly denied by landlady Kerrie Facer, who has run the pub for almost four years. She said police regularly attend the pub and have never found drugs or evidence of underage drinking. The pub provided police with CCTV footage at times of alleged fights to prove they did not occur, she added.

Licensing Committee chairman Michael Humphrey said: “We have accepted the evidence given by PC Richardson which showed clear breaches of the three licensing objectives in respect of prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and public nuisance.

“While information was presented regarding protection of children from harm; we found that the evidence was not sufficient to justify concerns in relation to this objective.

“There has been no evidence to suggest that the current Designated Premises Supervisor has played any active role in the management and conduct of the premises and that the current tenant/manager Kerrie Facer has done little to tackle or address the situation.

“We have determined that the present Designated Premises Supervisor should be removed with immediate effect.

Star Bars and Pubs Limited undertake not to seek the appointment of a replacement Designated Premises Supervisor until the current tenancy with Kerrie Facer has been terminated and she has vacated the premises.”