The Metropolitan Police has formally opposed an application by McDonald's on Finchley Road, Camden, to extend customer hours until 2am, citing a series of violent incidents at the restaurant. In a submission to Camden Council, local licensing officer PC Chris Malone detailed 19 incidents recorded in 2026, including an assault on a pregnant staff member and an attack on an elderly man outside the premises.
Police cite 'horrific' crimes and robbery hotspot concerns
PC Malone told the council that the Finchley Road McDonald's has historically been a robbery hotspot, and that extending late-night hours would increase risks. "[This] McDonald's was always a robbery hotspot," he said, adding that police have previously targeted tactics where suspects sit inside and "wait for potential victims." He warned that allowing more customers late at night would "give these street robbers more potentially vulnerable targets" and let thieves blend into the background.
The officer referenced a June 2026 report in which an elderly man was assaulted and had his walking stick broken outside the restaurant. The suspect, according to PC Malone, "constantly frequents" the Finchley Road McDonald's. He also cited an incident from December 2025 when three youths "violently attacked" a pregnant staff member.
Franchisee proposes body cameras but police remain unsatisfied
In response, franchisee Reema Mavani has proposed that shift managers and employees working in dining areas wear body cameras between 11pm and 2am. However, this measure has not satisfied police officers. PC Malone concluded: "The concern is that the venue struggles to deal with violent crimes throughout the day and night. Some of the crimes sound really horrific where even staff are assaulted or threatened."
The application follows a June 2025 decision by Camden Council to allow the restaurant to stay open until 1am for customers and 2am for deliveries, despite opposition from locals and the Met. That earlier approval was granted amid concerns that the restaurant attracted crowds in the early morning hours.
History of armed robberies at the Finchley Road branch
The Finchley Road McDonald's has a history of serious incidents. In 2011, a trio of masked men—one wielding a sawn-off shotgun—held up the restaurant while an accomplice looked on; all four were later caught and jailed. An earlier raid in 2008 saw a group sneak in through a fire exit and loot the tills while brandishing large swords; they were identified and sentenced to a total of 16 years.
Camden's licensing panel is scheduled to hear the application on Thursday, September 17. The panel will decide whether to grant the extended hours, balancing the franchisee's proposals against police and community concerns.
