A Seven Kings off-licence’s application to sell alcohol until the early hours has raised concerns with the police and Redbridge Council’s licensing teams.
Vijayakumar Veeramalai, who runs Let’s Go Nicks, in Green Lane, has applied to the council for permission to extend his opening times to 2am, seven days a week.
The off-licence currently closes at 11pm on Mondays through Saturdays, and at 10.30pm on Sundays. It opens most days at 8am.
The Metropolitan Police’s licensing department has formally objected to the scheme, saying it could worsen problems with street drinking in the area.
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Licensing officer PC Matt Brown said: “Having read the application and after considering the hours sought, police are very concerned that this premises will add to existing problems in the area with late night drinking.
“The hours may attract patrons already under the influence of alcohol who, after leaving late night venues, will seek additional drinking of alcohol.”
The new licence “could have a negative impact on local residents” by worsening the risk of disruptive and anti-social behaviour.
PC Brown added: “Once a person has purchased alcohol and walked away from the off-licence, what is to stop them from drinking outside houses late at night and engaging in [anti-social behaviour]?
“There will be no local police in place during the night to assist as police resources are extremely limited at these times.”
In April, the council issued a formal warning to the shop for breaching two of its licence conditions by selling single cans of beer, and those with a higher alcohol percentage than 6.5%.
A licensing officer said: “The licensing authority is very concerned that this premises will create problems in the area, particularly the disturbance of residents at night.
“We therefore respectfully ask the sub-committee to reject the application as we believe the applicant will seriously undermine the licensing objectives.”
In a bid to minimise disruption and crime, the operators of Let’s Go Nicks say they will put up signage “requesting customers to respect residents and leave the shop and area quietly, not to drink or loiter outside the shop and to dispose of litter legally”.
Staff will also keep an incident book to log refusals, crimes and any public complaints.
“The incident book shall be used to record the date and time of any incident, the name of the staff member and a brief description of the customer concerned,” the applicants said.
Workers will monitor the front of the store via CCTV and ask anyone loitering to leave, they added.
The application will be determined by the council’s licensing committee at a meeting on Wednesday (June 4).
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