Tim Lord

NEW powers allowing the Greater London Authority the final say on late-night drinks licences after the city council has turned them down will create a Wild West End, leading residents’ groups warn.

A pilot scheme announced this week will give the GLA the opportunity to “call in” decisions and overturn them, taking the final say away from Westminster councillors on licensing committees.

Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, who is chief executive of the GLA, believes the changes will encourage more al fresco dining in the centre of the capital.

But The Soho Society say bars and pubs staying open later would lead to a significant increase in crime. Its chair Tim Lord said: “Analysis in December 2023 found that a single additional nightclub licence in the West End increases violent crime by 44 per cent and more than doubles the theft in the immediate area.

“The crime is so extensive in the West End that Westminster Council decided in 2023 that it would be illegal to grant any more late licences – though it has often ignored that analysis and has continued to grant licences – and as predicted the crime continues to increase.”

Westminster City Council has to take into account crime and anti-social be­haviour when looking at new applications.

Mr Lord said the society had offered advice to the council about tackling crime, including creating “safe zones”, new dispersal policies when clubs close, better transport, and better queue management.

He said: “In general, though, the key issue is a lack of policing capacity. Ironically the main reason there aren’t more late-night venues in Soho is, arguably, the mayor’s failure to get a grip on crime in the West End over many years and the legal implications to that for Westminster Council.

“Soho sometimes starts the night with fewer than 20 officers on duty, with two leaving for every arrest, so no local police at all by midnight. There will still be a response team in cars but that is for a wider area. We sometimes get the Territorial Support Group, but it’s inconsistent. Two off-duty officers were stabbed last year when they went to the aid of someone being mugged so I can imagine it’s hard to recruit.”

Mr Lord cited police figures that show thousands of crimes in the West End are committed and said violent and sexual crimes were directly linked to the number of late-night licences granted.

He said: “One step would be to create safe zones for dispersal, work with the taxi drivers, and improve public transport at night. We have been asking the council for this for some time. The idea of additional late-night licensing which does not look at the crime and nuisance is only half an idea, and might lead to decisions which will make the crime significantly worse. The Met recently announced that it is cutting 1,700 police jobs which means it will be even more difficult to police the West End effectively.”

In Covent Garden residents said they would be carefully monitoring the impact of any mayor-led call-ins.

Covent Garden Community Association licensing committee chair David Kaner said: “The CGCA, along with other residents’ groups, are concerned about the apparent decision to grant the mayor power to call in blocked licence applications.

“We don’t yet know what these powers will include, in what situation they can be exercised, nor how they will be enacted without primary legislation to amend the Licensing Act 2003. There is already a clear process available if applicants are unhappy with a council decision to block a licensing application, and that is an appeal to the magistrates’ court,” he said, and added: “The hospitality industry may be suffering, but the problem is not blocked applications. It is increased costs such as rent, rates, energy and national insurance at a time when customers are less willing to spend money going out.”

A city council spokesman said: “Westminster has the most pubs and clubs of any local authority so we already have extensive expertise in supporting business to thrive while balancing the views of local people and the police.”

He said the vast majority of applications were granted, and “…only refused where safety concerns are raised by the police or significant disruption is likely”. He added: “We need to see the proposals in more detail before commenting further. Local authorities and licensing professionals should be represented in any working group.”

The government said the changes would cut “red tape”, boost jobs and help save the hospitality industry from further closures, and added the GLA would work closely with the police and residents’ groups to make sure any changes were acceptable.