AN application to serve alcohol from 9pm to 9am for an event at a city venue that has been the scene of brawls and assaults has been rejected.
But the planned 12-hour house-music marathon at Colombo House, Colombo Street, will continue due to a legal loophole, organisers say.
Gavinder Beesla asked Derby City Council for the 12-hour licence to sell alcohol at the event, which is due to start on Saturday night.
But Derbyshire police warned there could be the potential for crime and anti-social behaviour at the event if the licence was granted.
Sergeant Mark Lomas, from the force's licensing department for Derby, said: "At a previous event, a doorman was assaulted by a group of people trying to gatecrash.
"In a separate incident another person was assaulted. Both of these crimes resulted in police investigations. However, at this time, nobody has been arrested.
"It is my belief that, if granted without suitable and adequate safeguards, it could cause unwanted alcohol-fuelled anti-social behaviour and crime and disorder into the morning hours."
The committee was told that previous events, which were not run by Mr Beesla, had resulted in noise complaints from neighbours.
Councillors were told residents living 200 metres away from Colombo House had windows shaken by vibrations from music at one event.
Several other noise complaints had been received and the committee was told that a noise abatement notice was served on the venue.
There are 190 tickets on sale for at £20 per head for the event, which Mr Beesla said would feature nationally-known DJs.
He told the committee: "The licence would allow a lot more control.
"It will prevent crime and disorder because drinking would be in a controlled way."
The committee, however, was not swayed by Mr Beesla's arguments and rejected the application.
However, he said: "The event will go ahead due to an exemption in the law."
A loophole allows for a place of worship to not have to be licensed for an event in the same way that other premises are.
Part of Colombo House is used by the Derby Rastafarian Association as a place of worship.
Residents in nearby streets were worried about the possibility of trouble at the event.
One man claimed said there had been fights outside the venue.
He said: "I am worried about what will happen at this new event."
Sergeant Lomas said: "I urge the local community to get in touch with the police, on 999 if it is an emergency or on 101 if not so we can be made aware and deal with any problems."
