An Accrington nightclub could be stripped of its licence following an increase in incidents causing issues for the police.

Several meetings have already taken place between the management at Dodge, in Warner Street, and the police and an action plan was drawn up.

However, police say incidents have continued and are worried the current management at Dodge has been ineffective in addressing the issues.

In September 2023, an Oswaldtwistle man was jailed after he left a doorman at the nightclub with a fracture and open wound on his right arm in a machete attack.

PC Phill Needham, of Lancashire Police, who applied for the review, said: “It is the view of Lancashire Police that there are a disproportionately high number of reported incidents of serious violence and disorder, including the use of weapons both inside and immediately outside the premises and that all four licensing objectives are being seriously undermined.

“There have also been allegations that children have been allowed entry into the venue.

“On February 3, the premises license holder was given an improvement plan by Lancashire Constabulary’s licensing team which outlined the issues at the venue and how to resolve them.

“However, between April and June 2024, incidents of violence and public order increased again.

“On June 25, a second meeting was held between the premises licence holder and the police licensing team at Blackburn Police Station where a further action plan was drawn up and sent to the operator for action.

“However, serious incidents have continued and the police are concerned that the current management of Dodge have been ineffective in addressing any of these issues despite having had meetings and advice from the police.”

Dodge is licensed to be open from noon to 5.30am Monday to Thursday, and from noon to 6am on Friday to Sunday.

They are licensed to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises only until 5.30am every day.

PC Needham said police responded on June 3 to a serious assault involving more than 20 people fighting in the street, with four suspects being arrested.

He added that on June 15, a male was knocked unconscious in the doorway of the venue and was taken to Royal Preston Hospital with a suspected bleed on the brain.

On June 29 and July 13, police also responded to large-scale fights, with one male being knocked unconscious after hitting his head on a kerb in one fight, and a female using a baseball bat to assault several people in another.

On July 22, police received intelligence that there were four 14-year-old girls inside the venue.

PC Needham added: “The police are concerned that should the premises be allowed to continue to operate in the manner it currently is then it is only a matter of time before there is another serious incident of public order and someone is seriously injured or worse.”

Details of the review application were published on Friday, August 2.