A BID by the owner of a Southbourne off-licence to have his permission to sell alcohol restored has been opposed by Dorset Police.

An application to reverse the 2008 revocation of Muzaffer Oksuz’s personal licence was submitted to BCP Council earlier this year over concerns it had left More the Merrier in financial trouble.

But police licensing officer Louise Busfield said there were still “serious doubts” over his “commitment” to licensing rules and has urged councillors to reject the request.

In 2008, a condition was added to the licence for the Kimberley Road business which banned Mr Oksuz – its owner – from personally selling alcohol at the shop after he was found to have breached regulations.

The previous year he was fined in court after admitting selling alcohol to minors.

And in 2019 Dorset Police called for the shop’s alcohol licence to be reviewed after saying it had “absolutely no confidence” in its management. It claimed he had repeatedly breached the 2008 condition.

But earlier this year his daughter, Esra Oksuz, applied to the council for the condition to be removed.

“This condition has caused serious financial and operational problems by having to hire extra staff and pay for their training and personal licence,” the application says.

“During the past 13 years the applicant and his family have made great efforts to improve the professionalism of the operation resulting in no problems in relation to age restricted sales and incidents of potential antisocial behaviour in the past year.”

Mr Oksuz has already been re-awarded a personal licence by the council.

The application adds that “he is now proved to be a responsible person worthy of this condition being removed”.

However, Dorset Police has objected to the move, criticising the “commitment” of the business to upholding the rules.

Its licensing officer Louise Busfield visited the shop in March over concerns the wearing of masks was not being enforced.

“Mr Oksuz was seated behind the counter, not wearing a mask, and when challenged he stated ‘I sometimes do’ and proceeded to rummage around on the floor, whereby he held up a clear plastic visor, which he did not put on,” her objection says. “Mr Oksuz then left his seat to speak to a customer in the shop, still failing to wear a mask.

“Dorset Police is therefore concerned that if Mr Oksuz is either not able or prepared to able to comply with the current requirements of the Coronavirus legislation, it casts serious doubt on his commitment to promoting the licensing objectives.”

Due to the objection, a decision on the application will be made by a council licensing sub-committee which will meet on Wednesday (May 12).