Police objections scupper bid to sell Big Macs until 5am in Kentish Town

Published: 5th May, 2011
by DAN CARRIER

A PREGNANT woman being sexually harassed, a man ‘flashing’ at a counter as burgers are served to customers, race hate abuse and drunken punch-ups.

These crimes were all committed at Kentish Town branch of McDonald’s, according to a letter sent by a senior police officer to Camden Council’s licensing department.

The letter, seen by the New Journal, set out a series of incidents at the branch in Kentish Town Road after police heard the fast-food restaurant had applied to stay open until 5am. Because it re-opens at 6am, it would have meant burgers and chips being served almost 24 hours a day. 

Police asked the council to turn down the request, which has since been withdrawn. 

The police letter highlights fears that late-night take-aways act as a magnet for crime and bad behaviour. It says: “It is reasonable to predict that increasing the hours will only exacerbate an already proven problem.”

Officers from Cam­den Police licensing unit voiced a series of other concerns, including: 

• racial abuse directed at staff;
• fights between customers and assaults on staff;
• adverts saying the restaurant is open until 2am when it must close at 1am;
• bags and phones stolen;
• food fights;
• possession of drugs;
• a 12-year-old boy attacked; and
• examples of previous licence breaking, with no licence forms on display and staff unaware of the times when they are legally allowed to sell hot food. 

The letter said officers doubted the restaurant’s franchise owners’ “social responsibility”, citing an article in the New Journal which revealed that McDonald’s had used illegal fly-posting to advertise outside concert venues in Kentish Town.

The decision to withdraw the application was welcomed by Kentish Town Road Action Group chairwoman Caroline Hill, who said: “It would be the only place in Kentish Town Road that would have had a late licence. Camden Town is a late-night centre and has problems with disorder, and we do not want it creeping into Kentish Town.”

She added that previously managers had not stuck to licensing laws. She said: “We feel they simply are not reliable.”

A McDonald’s spokes­man said: “While we believe that offering extended opening hours provides a convenient choice for our customers, we can confirm that the recent application has been withdrawn while we meet with local police to discuss any concerns that have been raised during the process so far. 

“We remain committed to being a good neighbour and aim to ensure that any impact we have on the community is a positive one.”