The precise reasons why Blu Jaz Café lost its public entertainment license has been made public by the Singapore police.

In a statement on Friday, Oct. 19, the police said the two most recent breaches under the Public Entertainment (PE) Act by Blu Jaz Café were for “severe overcrowding”.

As a result of repeatedly flouting licensing conditions and having accumulated 24 demerit points within a 24-month period, the popular night spot along Bali Lane lost its public entertainment license on Aug. 31.

Overloaded by several times

The approved occupancy load for the second floor of Blu Jaz Café is 30 persons.

On April 28, 2018, the police found more than 150 persons on the second floor of the venue.

In a follow-up check on May 5, 2018, the police found close to 200 persons on the same second floor.

Such severe overcrowding poses serious safety risks to patrons and staff, especially in the event of a fire, the police said. It may result in a stampede if there is a need to evacuate.

Overcrowded conditions on the upper level significantly compounded the danger to everyone in the premises, the police added.

The police said it was very irresponsible of the management to have allowed those situations to occur, putting so many lives at risk.

Did not address issue

Compounding the problem was a lack of action to rectify the situation, according to the police.

The overcrowding infringement on April 28, 2018, was made known to the management of Blu Jaz Café.

But the establishment did not address the breach and did not put in place any mitigating measures, and instead allowed severe overcrowding to recur the following week, and by an even greater degree.

Duty-bound to act

The police said it had to treat such breaches very seriously to safeguard the safety of the public.

Licensees are issued demerit points and once a licensee accumulates 24 demerit points under the Public Entertainment Act, the police will issue the Notice of Cancellation order.

The police stressed that all outlets that accumulate the points and breach the rules are treated the same way.

It is untenable to treat different outlets differently, the police said.

Appeal being reviewed

The police also said it has received Blu Jaz Café’s appeal against the cancellation of its Public Entertainment Licence.

The appeal is being reviewed by the independent Public Entertainment Appeal Board, which comprises members from the private and public sectors.

The police statement was released after it was suggested online that the police acted according to complaints about noise levels from the condominium residents opposite the venue.

Background

Blu Jaz Café director Aileen Tan, 56, told The New Paper it was first informed of the licence cancellation on Aug. 31.

An appeal has been lodged, which was rejected on Oct. 8, owing to the cafe’s “poor track record of compliance” with licensing conditions.

Tan said that the 1,600 square-foot area on the first storey was given a capacity of only 43, and that included its staff, which is about 20 people on weekends.

“With the band taking up another five to eight people, overcrowding becomes very difficult to manage,” she told TNP.

The three-storey establishment in the Kampong Glam community has operated for the past 13 years, holding a variety of live entertainment such as jazz gigs, comedy shows and poetry sessions.

Home-grown talents such as stand-up comedian Fakkah Fuzz and singer-songwriter Charlie Lim, who sang this year’s National Day Parade theme song, started out at the venue.

Blu Jaz is appealing against the cancellation again.

The Kampong Glam community has rallied behind the cafe by sending letters of appeal to the police.

A petition has also been launched on the GoPetition website, titled “Don’t Let The Music Die”.

"As for our appeal to reverse SPF’s decision on cancellation of the licence, the Appeal Board may confirm, vary or reverse SPF’s decision or require SPF to reconsider the decision or direction. The Appeal Board’s decision on the appeal is FINAL,” the cafe noted.

Pending the review of SPF’s decision, Blu Jaz said it is also requesting the Appeal Board to postpone the Oct. 22 effective date.

If the appeal fails, Tan reportedly said closure of the venue would be considered: “The rent here is astronomical. Without entertainment, we will not be able to sustain it and will eventually have to close shop.”

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