The Metropolitan Police have formally opposed a Tooting convenience store's application to sell alcohol until 2am daily, citing concerns that the extended hours would exacerbate anti-social behaviour and violence in the area. KK Convenience Store, located on Tooting High Street, sought to extend its alcohol sales from the current 11pm limit to 2am every day.
Police and council officials raise concerns
Both the Met Police and Wandsworth Council's environmental services and licensing officers objected to the application, as the shop sits within the Tooting Broadway Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ). Under council policy, applications in CIZ areas should be refused if they are deemed likely to contribute to existing problems. PC Belinda Loizou, a Met Police licensing officer, told the council's licensing hearing on August 19 that extending alcohol sales to 2am would likely increase anti-social behaviour and crime in the area.
“Tooting Broadway continues to experience significant levels of violence and anti-social behaviour and the police data shows rising crimes, and the council's policy also identifies that late-night alcohol availability and off-licences do contribute to these problems,” PC Loizou said during the hearing.
Area described as 'saturated' with alcohol sellers
Russ Stevens, Wandsworth's principal licensing officer, reinforced the opposition, stating that the area is already saturated with alcohol sellers. “It's an area already deemed to be saturated with alcohol sellers and any premises, no matter how well run... if there's more alcohol being supplied in a cumulative impact area, then it will have a negative impact,” Stevens said. He added that the increased availability of alcohol would lead to a rise in anti-social behaviour, crime, and other alcohol-related problems already reported in the area.
Business owners Kavikumar Paramasivam and Karthick Siva Subramanian argued before the committee that extending the hours would help the business. They pledged to comply with all conditions on the licence to address any concerns. Proposed conditions included restricting the sale of high-strength alcohol and banning the sale of single cans.
Shop owners offer compromise
Karthick told the hearing that the shop always employs a member of staff as security and would not sell alcohol to anyone who appeared intoxicated. He suggested that the committee could approve a midnight limit instead of 2am, if that were more acceptable. The committee's decision on the application is expected to be published in the coming days.
