Police would be left with ‘a crucial lack of evidence’, according to objections
Katie O’Brien’s have applied for canopies covering the front of the building(Image: Lincolnshire Live)
An Irish bar’s canopy plans would create a dangerous CCTV blindspot on Lincoln High Street, police have warned.
Katie O’Briens has applied for permission for retractable canopies along the length of its front and partially on its Park Street side.
However, Lincolnshire Police and the council claim this would hide a “very volatile area” from CCTV cameras, making patrons less safe.
They claim the canopy would block the view of the entrances to Katie O’Brien’s and the neighbouring Walkabout, as well as the Park Street alley.
A statement submitted by Lincolnshire Police said: “This area is a well-known hotspot within the night-time economy, with frequent incidents requiring police attention.
“A canopy in this location would significantly obstruct existing CCTV coverage, causing a substantial loss of visibility over a critical space.
“This obstruction would directly impact our ability to prevent and detect crime and would severely impede the collection of vital evidence relating to disorder, assaults, and other offences that regularly occur in this location.
“In addition, the loss of clear CCTV coverage would increase the risk to members of the public who use and enjoy the night-time economy.”
This was echoed by City of Lincoln Council, who have submitted their own comment on the scheme, saying: “The canopy would completely cover the junction of High Street and Park Street, Walkabout’s entry/exit door and Katie O’Briens entry/exit door.
“This area is very volatile in the night time economy and would obstruct the CCTV view of many incidents that would occur in that area and therefore leaving police with a crucial lack of evidence.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted the Invest Group, who owns Katie O’Brien’s, for comment.
The application will be determined by the council’s planning committee in future.
The Irish pub opened in 2025, replacing the closed TGI Fridays.
