Police object to store's 24-hour alcohol sales bid

Police have asked the council to refuse the bid to extend alcohol sales hours

Police have objected to a supermarket's bid to sell alcohol 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Morrisons in Narborough Road, Leicester, currently has a licence to sell alcohol daily, between 07:00 and 22:00, but has asked Leicester City Council to allow 24/7 sales.

Leicestershire Police has opposed the bid, saying it would cause more crime and anti-social behaviour in the surrounding area.

Applicants K S Retail Stores Ltd has told the council it would put measures in place to prevent problems resulting from extended sales hours.

In a report sent to the council, the force's licensing officer, Jefferson Pritchard, said there were existing issues with street drinking and men "congregating" in the area and "urinating in alleyways".

He said he believed granting longer sales hours would "increase this unwelcome behaviour", result in more street drinking, "alcohol-related crime", general anti-social behaviour and noise.

He also said he believed the application could lead to more parking problems in nearby streets, with people double parking as they visited the store.

He urged the council to refuse the application.

K S Retail Stores Ltd set out measures the store would take to reduce risks.

The firm said these included the use of CCTV, "adequate staffing" levels, and staff training, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The applicant added that staff would ask anyone who appeared to be under 25 to show proof of age when buying alcohol.

The council's licensing committee will discuss the application on Thursday.