Staff at the Elephant’s Head in Camden Town

IT first pulled pints when William IV was on the throne, but 190 years later, managers of a pub in Camden Town says it is at risk of closure due to unfair police reports.

The Elephant’s Head, which started trading in 1832 and, remarkably for Camden pubs, retains the same name above the door from when it first opened, is facing a devastating cut in hours after police requested a licence review.

A police report claims the pub suffers from high levels of anti-social behaviour and crime– a claim vigorously disputed by the owners, brother and sister Vince Heavey and Ann Monaghan.

They are taking urgent legal advice to counter a raft of errors they say can be found in the report and add if opening hours are cut from 2am to 11pm, they will have no option but to shut up shop.

Mr Heavey told the New Journal there are blurred lines between the pub’s responsibilities towards customers and the public, and crime rates on Camden Town’s streets.

He said: “The reduced hours they suggest would mean we have to close. It is that serious. The figures the police use suggest there are thefts of bags, coats and phones here but they are totally incorrect and relate to crimes in Camden Town, not in our pub.

“Some incidents take place on the high street. They aren’t related to our customers. If it happens nearby, we are a land mark so people say – oh, it was by the Elephant’s Head and crime reports reflect that.

“We have looked carefully at the crimes mentioned. For example, one man tried to come in and was drunk, so our security stopped him. He went on up the high street and committed a crime – and that is logged as being our responsibility. Our security did what they should have done. They spoke politely to the man, did not allow him in and suggested he make his way safely home. They checked up on him, but once he has walked away, there is not much more you can do.”

The couple now face going in front of a panel of councillors at the Town Hall to make the case to keep their late licence.

Mr Heavey said: “When our customers go outside they can be harassed by drug dealers. Other people have been robbed of their phones and bags by people on bikes wearing masks.

“It has been the case where we have seen five or six individuals standing outside our premises wearing masks. We are really, really tired of it.”

Ann Monaghan and Vince Heavey

As well as informing the police of suspicious behaviour, the pub includes a free cloakroom, has 32 CCTV cameras and employs four door staff – twice the number legally required.

The Elephant’s Head also uses four “Quiet Streets” marshals who help people disperse at closing time. Mr Heavey added: “We take good care and full responsibility for people in our pub. Sometimes people party too much and need to be looked after. That is just life. For every situation we have procedures.

“We uphold the highest of standards and diligence is our number one priority.”

The Elephant’s Head now faces an uncertain Christmas, with its response due in the first week of January.

Camden’s police licensing team say the pub failed to detain people suspected of crime and had not kept a drink suspected of being spiked for officers to examine. “

There have been failings in responding to crime and disorder by not detaining suspects, not calling police and not preserving crime scenes,” the report said.

“The victims of the crimes are vulnerable night-time revellers and the fear is the perpetrators have been able to remain in the area and cause more harm as a result of the actions of staff members”