A NEWPORT licensee says he has lived through "six months of hell" and is considering leaving the city after Gwent police said they will no longer be requesting a review to be carried out into his nightclub premises.

Iftekhar Haris, 46, of Newport, faced losing licences for his four city nightspots after police raised concerns about anti-social behaviour and public safety.

But after Mr Haris was found not guilty of an offence under the public order act last month following an alleged incident outside one of his clubs, Warehouse 54, a Gwent police spokesman said it was no longer appropriate to proceed with the review.

The council's licensing sub committee was due to review the premises licences of Kama Lounge, Warehouse 54, Delilah's and Meze Lounge this month on the request of Chief Constable Carmel Napier.

Mr Haris, who has been a licensee for 17 years and employs more than 100 people directly and indirectly, said: "One and a half seconds of involvement in trying to protect a member of staff led to me being arrested and having my DNA, fingerprints and police photo taken.

"I was totally shocked."

In the trial, the prosecution alleged Mr Haris along with two doormen Rudi Paders and Tony Bryan had caused fear or provocation of violence by attacking a man who had been asked to leave the club.

But magistrates accepted Mr Haris had acted in defence of himself and his staff and found him not guilty.

Magistrates decided Mr Paders and Mr Bryan had no case to answer in relation to the charge but did find the pair guilty of contravening conditions of a door licence as they were not displaying their security licences at the time of the altercation.

Mr Paders and Mr Bryan said they are appealing the conviction and are complaining to police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Mr Haris said: "When I got found not guilty, I didn't feel relief. I felt more angry as it shouldn't have come about.

"I am 46 years old and have never been in any sort of violent act."

Mr Haris said the ordeal has also affected his health as well as his business and staff and said he has paid up to £15,000 in legal costs.

He said: "I work 15 to 20 hour days and music is my passion.

"I'm not sure if the business is going to recover. So much energy has gone into the reviews."

He added: ""This has really shaken me."

Mr Haris said he would be working with police in the city centre to improve safety for visitors. He added: "What I want to do is give one last go of changing the whole safety aspect of Newport.

"Otherwise I am leaving."

Mr Haris said while he has been supported by some police officers in his work, he is now also considering filing a complaint with the IPCC.

A Gwent police spokeswoman said: "As the evidence presented to the court in this case was also the basis for the licence review it was felt it would no longer be appropriate to proceed with this.

"Gwent Police will continue to focus and take action when necessary to achieve its obligations as a responsible authority under the Licensing Act whilst ensuring Newport has a vibrant and safe night-time economy."

ARGUS COMMENT: Hope club boss stays

IFTEKHAR Haris is one of Newport’s most prominent businessmen.

His four city-centre businesses are vital parts of Newport’s night-time economy.

So to hear that he is considering leaving the city following run-ins with the police and the council is, in our view, bad news indeed.

Last month Mr Haris was cleared by magistrates of an alleged public order offence outside one of his nightclubs.

Now a council review of his licences – requested by Gwent Police – has been dropped after the police decided not to proceed.

Mr Haris says he has been left angry and shaken by recent events and is considering making a complaint against the police.

Most crucially, he has threatened to leave Newport – but not before he has “one last go” at making the city a safer place at night.

To do that he will have to work hand-in-hand with the police and we have to question whether that is a relationship that is now possible.

We hope it is. Not everyone in Newport will be fans of Mr Haris or his businesses.

But he has been a fixture in the city’s night-time economy for many years. It is vital Mr Haris and the authorities develop a better working relationship – not at any cost, but in a way which protects the jobs that his businesses provide for many people in Newport.