A TAKEAWAY restaurant in Bournemouth is to have its premises licence reviewed after a cache of weapons was found there during a police raid.

Officers raided Efe's Taverna in Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, during a Dorset Police operation on the afternoon of January 18 this year and found knives, a knuckle-duster and firearms - some next to the till in the restaurant.

The weapons and other items were seized by officers and are still being investigated.

At a meeting of Bournemouth Borough Council's Licensing Board next Tuesday, Dorset Police will ask councillors to review the restaurant's licence.

In its application to the board, Dorset Police says: "During the afternoon of January 18, 2008, a Dorset Police operation led to the premises known as Efe's Taverna being searched.

"And from the licensed part of the building a number of weapons that by their location and their very nature indicate ownership for the sole use of causing extremely serious injury and harm to individuals.

"Further weapons were also found in a non-licensed part of the building that is occupied by the premises licence holder and the designated premises supervisor and directly accessible from the licensed area of the premises."

The weapons were found at a time when customers may have been in the restaurant, it adds.

Dorset Police wants the premises licence to be reviewed on the grounds that the site is not promoting the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety.

Board members could decide to suspend the licence for a period not exceeding three months, revoke its premises licence altogether, or remove the designated premises supervisor.

The premises has operated in Boscombe for almost three years under licence holder and designated premises supervisor Huseyin Ceren.

When the Echo called to speak to Mr Ceren at lunchtime on Friday the shop was closed.

Neighbouring shopkeepers said as far as they were aware the shop was still open for business but knew nothing about a police raid.