Lay off the ‘hot doggies’

Published: 20 May, 2011

• UNLICENSED vendors outside the British Museum have recently had their equipment seized by Camden, who are trying to get rid of all hot dog vendors in the area. 

On Good Friday one vendor was arrested and kept in police cells for eight hours. What a contrast to the situation in America, where they license and cherish their “hot doggies”. 

Here in London, street traders have already been driven to despair by Westminster Council since Shirley Porter began the policy of confiscating their equipment, which was ironic as her father Jack Cohen, the founder of Tesco, began his career as a street trader. 

If councils decided to give out licences to hot dog vendors it would, by my estimation, create 500 jobs in London alone, both in trading and supply. I am not saying street traders should be given an easy time. But this should be approached within the criteria of the spirit of the law and not to impinge on civil or human rights. 

I concede unlicensed street trading is against the law, but you also have to consider some of these peoples plight. Many don’t qualify for benefits and must work in these types of jobs until they can find something better. 

TURGUT KEMAL  
Address supplied