Police have called for a review of licence of a takeaway over concerns of crime, disorder and public safety.

Cleveland Police have made an application to review the premises licence of Joanna’s Fish Bar at 183 York Road in Hartlepool, now known as Alyna Fisheries.

They are calling for the review on the grounds the site undermining the licensing objectives for prevention of crime and disorder and public safety.

The calls come after police received a warrant to search the site in September last year, when it was known as Joanna’s Fish Bar, following community intelligence.

Police said a quantity of illegal/counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco was found of various makes, along with a quantity of money.

An application for review of the premises licence, submitted by Andrew Thorpe at Cleveland Police, states a male was arrested by officers and goods seized, along with a quantity of money.

He said: “It is believed that not only was illegal/counterfeit tobacco being stored at the premises but it was being sold from the premises too and with the benefit of its premises licence was able to do so until midnight.

“It is for this reason the police believe that the crime and disorder objective is being undermined and this is the reason the police are calling for a review of the premises licence.”

Environmental health officers closed down the shop until improvements were made with food hygiene standards.

Following an inspection just over a month later on November 5 the site, as Alyna Fisheries, received a 4/5 Food Hygiene Rating, meaning it was rated Good, according to the Food Standards Agency website.

The warrant in September was executed as part of Operation Sentinel, a regional crusade to tackle serious and organised crime, in conjunction with environmental health officers, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Gangmasters Labour Abuse Authority.

Around £5,000 in cash was recovered along with thousands of pounds of counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco.