A GAMING shop boss has rejected police concerns that his application for an alcohol licence could increase the risk of child sexual exploitation.

West Mercia Police has ‘serious concerns’ that the application by Retroids, in New Street, Worcester, could lead to an increase in crime and youngsters getting their hands on booze.

However, David Newey, the co-owner of Retroids, insisted that his shop would not sell alcohol to underage drinkers.

Mr Newey, aged 33, said: “We are not a pub, we are not looking to sell spirits, or draught beer.

“I’m thinking of a low percentage beer bottle behind the bar for anyone over the age of 18 that wants to drink beer while playing on our arcade machines.

“The people that come in aren’t people that frequent pubs, they are outside that community. They are comic book reading nerds, who are into video games. The sort of people that play Dungeons and Dragons.

“They are a quiet bunch who shy away from altercations. I don’t think there will be an increase in crime.”

Mr Newey suspects the police think he wants to sell alcohol to children because he told them that the store might draw in a younger audience because it sells comic books.

However, the boss insisted that the shop’s target audience was people in their 30s.

He said the store would ID anyone buying beer and not advertise the fact that it sells booze.

Mr Newey, who lives in Malvern, also dismissed police concerns about drunken revelry disturbing residents above the store.

He said no one currently lives directly above the shop and said residents in the street expect a certain level of noise, due to Sin nightclub.

In its response to the alcohol licence application, West Mercia Police stated: “The applicant confirmed that the intended client base would be 16-plus, this causes the concern that underage persons could be subject to having access to alcohol.

“An immediate neighbouring premises holds under-18 nights and the last one within the past seven days drew around 400 under-18s.

“West Mercia Police works closely with Worcester City Council’s safeguarding team to minimise the risk of child sexual exploitation for these events and the addition of another licensed premises aimed at 16-plus raises this concern drastically.”

Retroids opened in the Four Leaf shop, which used to sell clothes but now focuses on tattoos and piercings, on November 10.

The shop features four bar top classic gaming devices and two full-sized arcade machines, worth £2,500 each.

Worcester City Council’s licensing sub-committee will decide on Retroids’ application at a meeting on November 28.