Police in Dudley have shut down a pub after a spate of gang related violent crime over the last two years.

Since the start of 2014, officers have received over 60 calls for help to the Earl of Dudley Arms in Wellington Road, including five serious assaults, a robbery and an attempted murder.

At Wolverhampton Magistrates Court yesterday (Wednesday 30 December) a three-month closure notice was served under section 76 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014; the licensee was also ordered to pay costs of almost £1,000 and Magistrates ordered the pub should be closed with immediate effect.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said "We believe the closure was necessary to prevent any further disorder and to keep people living in and around the premises safe.

"The licence holder of Earl of Dudley has a duty to protect his customers but he has failed to do that: he has allowed members of a local gang to frequent his premises and commit serious acts of violence towards innocent customers. In the latest incident earlier this month a man was badly beaten inside the premises. Two men have been charged in connection with that attack and await trial.

"We understand that the closure of this pub will mean people losing their jobs and that the licensee will be significantly financially affected. However, the magistrates were convinced that the immediate closure was the only way to keep people from being harmed.

The order is in effect until 29 March 2016 and anyone attempting to enter the Earl of Dudley Arms will now be committing a criminal offence.