The Met Police has slammed plans for Wendy’s to stay open as late as 2am in a South London crime hotspot, with high levels of violence against women. The fast food chain wants to extend its opening hours from 11pm to 12am on Sundays to Wednesdays, and 2am on Thursdays to Saturdays at its branch on Eden Street, in Kingston town centre.
Police Sergeant Jeremy Weston sent an objection to the plans to Kingston Council, ahead of a licensing hearing on Tuesday (May 20), describing Eden Street as ‘an area with a high incidence of violent crime’. He said the latest report from the South West Basic Command Unit (BCU) showed the town centre continued to be a hotspot for violence against women and girls, with 21 such offences occurring in the 12 weeks up to March 25, 2024.
PS Weston said: “The late-night presence of customers, particularly in a fast-food establishment, often leads to increased crime and ASB [anti-social behaviour], which would negatively influence the area and undermine all of the MPS operations as described being conducted in the area already.
“Extending these hours would also attract individuals who may have been consuming alcohol in nearby licensed premises, increasing the risk of disorderly behaviour and public nuisance. This is particularly concerning given the area’s existing challenges with ASB and violent crime.”
He told the hearing that, “with eight years experience policing Kingston town centre, it will be another venue open late, [attracting] young people, predators, where they will sit, loiter, and it will cause issues.”
Barrister Edmund Garnett, representing the Met, added officers had “a real and continuing concern that the provision of late-night fast food in the way that it’s been envisaged in the application would contribute to the ongoing problems with anti-social behaviour and crime in the area.”
Luke Atkins, district manager for Wendy’s, said the restaurant would put measures in place to address the Met’s concerns, but it was open to any other suggestions. He said CCTV covering the branch’s internal and external areas would keep people safe, while staff would get extra training and there would be at least two security guards manning the venue at night.
Mr Atkins added: “We understand our duty to the community as we seek to extend our operating hours. Our top priority is the safety and wellbeing of our customers, our restaurant team members and our neighbours. We believe that our current and the proposed procedures are thorough and they align with the full licensing objectives.”
Kingston Council will publish its decision on the plans in the coming days.
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