A convenience store has had its licence to sell alcohol suspended after police raised concerns about “serious crime and disorder”.

The sale of booze at Kent Quick Mart, in Knights Road, Hoo, was stopped this week after a ruling by Medway Council’s licensing hearing panel.

Police applied for a fast-track review of the licence for the shop, a Premier Express that's also known as Quicky Mart.

The force’s application to the council came the day after a report of a “serious assault” in Knights Road at about 11.30pm on Monday (February 3) which saw a teenage boy taken to hospital with facial injuries.

The teenager was discharged shortly after.

A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and an investigation into the circumstances is under way.

He was released on bail until Friday, May 2.

In calling for a licence review, police said action was needed “as the premises have been associated with serious crime and disorder”.

The panel met in a behind closed doors session on Thursday (February 6) to consider the request.

Kent Police officers PC Carrie Knight, PC Mark Squires and PC Andre Smuts attended the meeting in person and gave evidence.

The licence holder and designated premises supervisor (DPS) for Kent Quick Mart, Mrs Kavitha Sivothayan, was not in attendance.

Councillors had four possible options in reviewing the licence: to modify its conditions; remove permission to sell alcohol from the licence; remove the DPS; or to suspend the licence with immediate effect.

After deliberation, the decision was given in open session.

Cllr Dan McDonald (Lab), panel chairman, said the application by Kent Police for the review had resulted in the immediate suspension of the licence until a full review on March 4.

He said: “The licensing committee, having heard oral and written representations from Kent Police, have determined interim steps are required to immediately suspend the premises licence until the next full review hearing in March.

“This is because there has been a failure to uphold the four licensing objectives.

“The designated premises supervisor was not in attendance and therefore provided no representations.

“The police will continue to work with the premises and licence holder to ensure the safety of the staff and the general public…”

“So our decision is we will suspend the licence immediately, today.”

PC Andre Smuts, speaking after the meeting, said: “The police will continue to work with the premises and licence holder to ensure the safety of the staff and the general public.

“That is our primary concern and we will pursue the best option to guarantee that.”