HEREFORD police were left feeling hot under the collar by a stripper’s performance in a city centre pub.

Photos of the man, booked by a party of women, were later posted on social media before being seen by officers who did not like what they saw.

West Mercia Police has since requested that the licence of the Queen’s Arms is reviewed as the Broad Street pub is not allowed to host “adult entertainment”.

In a statement to Herefordshire Council’s regulatory department, the police said the stripper was paid £140 to perform on April 23.

“Photographs show a white male naked with his genitals exposed,” it read.

“He appears to have foam or soap on his body and, in particular, on his genitals.

“Police enquiries have established that the party at the premises on the night in question were females and that some are employees who work at the venue.

“The police have not been able to establish who the male artist was, who booked him or through what agency.

“They have, however, established that the fee was £140 and that the females paid it on the night.”

The police report stated that the pub is close to both Hereford Cathedral and All Saint’s Church – both of which, the police say, are “places of worship and iconic locations for local people and visitors to the city”.

Police describe the pub’s windows as “overlooking the main streets” with “one large picture window giving a clear unobstructed view into the public area of the premises”.

“It is clear that this activity would have been visible to anyone passing the premises or purely stepping through the (pub’s) door from the street,” the statement adds.

Police officers visited the pub three days later to discuss the issue with the licensee, David Pope.

According to the report, Mr Pope said he knew nothing about the incident and said he had been working in another part of the pub when the stripper performed.

He had been told by customers that a group of women would be calling in during the evening but he did not see the stripper enter or see him stripping and was not aware of what happened until it was over.

Mr Pope told officers he would not allow such behaviour because “he did not want it”.

The police report alleges people were told to delete the “photographic evidence” of the stripper within 30 minutes of police speaking to Mr Pope.

Writing to the council, the report stated: “The police treat this type of illegal activity seriously when it is in breach of a licensed premises.” The statement makes clear that police do not believe Mr Pope should be the pub’s designated premises supervisor.

They are not, however, requesting the revocation of the licence, but do want conditions imposed to promote the licensing objectives in a “proportionate, achievable and enforceable”

manner.

The matter will be considered by Herefordshire Council’s regulatory sub committee after a consultation which runs until June 6.

Mr Pope declined to comment when approached by the Hereford Times.