By Bypassed electricity meter put Scunthorpe shoppers at risk
A Scunthorpe shopkeeper who bypassed his electricity meter put customers at risk, Humberside Police say.
According to reports, Bharat Singh, a company director of HA Stores, Henderson Avenue, refused British Gas entry to the premises to carry out a routine inspection.
North Lincolnshire Council are wanting to revoke Mr Singh’s alcohol licence for the shop in question, alongside other establishments he is connected to.
It is understood that Humberside Police had been called to HA Stores on Henderson Avenue after British Gas employees were denied access inside the property to read the meter.
Mr Singh threatened those attempting to gain entry with the stores panic button.
The Lincolnite has said employees for the energy supplier went to the shop last November as a result of no readings being taken since August 2021, but were denied entry.
British Gas suspected Mr Singh had bypassed the electricity meter for the store and a warrant was issued for a second visit. Again, employees had been refused entry and a locksmith had to be called.
According to a police report to North Lincolnshire Council’s licensing committee, two officers and two PCSOs were sent to ‘keep the peace’
After British Gas engineers finally gained entry inside, they confirmed that the meter had been bypassed.
Police now want Mr Singh removed as a licence holder for every store he is connected to after he needlessly put the safety of his customers in jeopardy.
Licensing officer PC Grant Johnston said:
This incident had taken two police officers and two Police Community Support Officers away from their normal duties away from serving the community. This was a waste of police time and resources due to Mr Singh declining to comply with the warrant and permit access.”
“It is the view of the Chief Constable that Mr Singh is highly likely to continue to undermine the licensing objectives in the future if he was to continue as the DPS, and for the company, or him, to continue running the other premises he is associated with”, he added.
North Lincolnshire Council’s licensing sub-committee are set to meet on Tuesday, April 19 to decide if Mr Singh will be removed as licence holder for three properties he is connected to.
