Boss of The Waterfront nightclub in Wick has licence suspended after failing to report alleged assaults to police
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* An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the police said that Robert Sutherland was ‘not fit’ to hold the licence. The police did not make that statement. In their evidence to Highland Council, the police expressed concern relating to two objectives in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 – preventing crime and disorder, and securing public safety. The licensing board subsequently voted to suspend the Waterfront’s licence for four weeks. We apologise for the error.
The manager of a popular nightclub in Wick has had his licence to operate suspended after police raised serious concerns about the venue.
The Waterfront, on The Shore, was under surveillance by the police and Highland Council after a series of alleged assaults went unreported by management.
At a meeting of the council's licensing board on Tuesday, members voted to suspend Mr Sutherland’s licence for four weeks.
In a written submission to the board, Chief Superintendent Conrad Trickett said the grounds for licence review related to two objectives in the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 – preventing crime and disorder, and securing public safety.
The police letter stated that two serious assaults had taken place since August 2021, and both had gone unreported by the Waterfront management.
Additionally, Mr Sutherland was said to have obstructed police efforts to review CCTV footage.
On a visit to the Waterfront on August 24 following the first assault, police told Mr Sutherland that both the police and the council “had concerns in relation to poor management of the premises, including intoxicated patrons, disorder, violence, lack of control, and failure to contact the police”.
Police said Mr Sutherland accepted he had a duty of care for his customers, and was willing to turn the situation around.
However, a second alleged assault went unreported on October 2.
When police asked Mr Sutherland to allow them to review CCTV, they found him “unwilling to cooperate”, telling offers he had a nightclub to run.
Chief Superintendent Trickett concluded: “I have concerns that should the premises continue to operate in this manner, with the foregoing information clearly evidencing poor management and a failure to engage with the authorities, then there is the potential for further serious incidents to occur, which will pose a significant risk to public safety.”
However, Mr Sutherland’s lawyer Peter Lawson challenged the police findings, claiming the incidents were not in fact serious assaults.
He claimed in one of the alleged assaults: “This guy has simply fallen over.”
He also alleged that the police visit at 11pm to review CCTV was not reasonable, given that the nightclub had a series of safeguarding actions to undertake at that time.
He stated that had Mr Sutherland stopped to download CCTV footage as officers requested, it would have prevented further live recording, which could have endangered his patrons.
Mr Lawson stated that the worst possible picture had been painted by police and said staff had successfully run the club for nine years during particularly difficult recent times.
Mr Sutherland’s legal counsel further claimed that Mr Sutherland had not been aware of one assault happening. However, police officer Katy Duncan countered that she had clear CCTV depicting Mr Sutherland entering the toilets where there was “a good rammy happening”.
In response to statements that it was a particularly busy night, Ms Duncan added that a busy night does not excuse poor management.
“Measures are not being taken; there is no duty of care to the patrons,” she said.
She added that should the club remain open, there was a risk of serious harm to the public.
“I’m so concerned that we’ve skipped the action plan stage and come right to the board with our concerns,” she said.
“If these premises continue to operate in the manner they’re operating in now, there’s risk of more individuals coming to harm in these premises.
“I respectfully request that board members give consideration to suspending the licence at the Waterfront.”
Members debated for several hours and, after three rounds of voting, agreed to suspend Mr Sutherland’s licence for four weeks. This was felt appropriate to allow for a review of working practices without significantly damaging the business or risking its employees.
