GANGS are operating at a party venue where a man was found shot and stabbed, police claim.

Praba Banqueting Suite in Ilford High Road has been shut down twice by police since New Year’s Eve 2016.

Officers swarmed the premises in the early hours of February 5 after a 22-year-old man was found with knife and gunshot wounds in a car parked outside.

Praba’s owners are due to go before Redbridge Council’s licensing committee next week (March 29) in the hope of regaining the licence it was forced to surrender on February 15.

But PC Ian Taylor of Ilford Police Station has written to the committee imploring them not to.

In a letter he wrote: “Since the venue came under new ownership in 2016 police have become increasingly concerned with the manner in which the venue is run.In recent weeks the venue has been the subject of information indicating the venue is attracting gang related issues from other parts of London.

“Police have held meetings with the owners of the venue giving advice and impressing upon them their responsibilities as owners.

“We believe this advice has gone unheeded, leading to an event being booked at the venue which has resulted in serious crime or disorder, an investigation into attempted murder, a threat to public safety, and public nuisance.”

Redbridge Council said: “The licence was surrendered by the licence holder who sold the business last year.

"The new owners have applied to transfer the licence to themselves.”

PC Taylor also advised Hari Krishan, of Ilford, should not be allowed to become the designated premises supervisor as he was convicted of a licensing offence in May 2013.

He added: “Police have little faith the current owners are running the venue to an acceptable standard.”

The Guardian has contacted Praba Banqueting Suite for comment.