09/02/2009 - Takeaway has late licence revoked
A council has revoked the late licence of a takeaway in one of Britain's wealthiest neighbourhoods after a criminal gang adopted it as their home.
The business was left to claim on its commercial property insurance after incidents including attacks, intimidation, theft and criminal damage.
Police attended 71 incidents over the course of one year at the takeaway restaurant in Ladbroke Grove, west London, after it was transformed into a hotbed of crime by the gang of teenagers, dubbed the Chicken Cottage Crew.
On one occasion, 20 brawling youths wrecked the business and spilled on to the street outside, leading to two arrests. In another incident, two police officers were badly injured responding to a fight.
The takeaway has now had its late licence revoked by Kensington and Chelsea Council in a bid to curb the gang's activities. It is the first time the council has acted in this way against a business that does not serve alcohol.
The chairman of the council's licensing committee, councillor Priscilla Frazer, said the move was a "landmark" decision. "We take anti-social behaviour very seriously in the Royal Borough and will do everything in our power to combat it," she said.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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