Police Raise Street Drinking Concerns Over Romford Shop Licence Hearing, Romford 2026

Key Points

• Havering Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to review a premises-licence application for Roseland News on Monday, 21 September.
• The Metropolitan Police submitted evidence highlighting a recent rise in street drinking and associated antisocial behaviour around the Farnham Road area in Harold Hill.
• The premises in question is located at 69 Farnham Road, Romford.
• Police representations emphasize that the area falls within an active Clear, Hold, Build initiative aimed at curbing local crime and public nuisance.
• Submissions note specific concerns regarding the sale of high-strength single cans of alcohol, which authorities associate with alcohol-fuelled disruption.
• Documented incidents during July include a robbery involving an intoxicated victim, fire damage to a bin, and official antisocial-behaviour warnings.
• The submissions reflect police evidence for the licensing panel’s consideration and do not constitute formal findings against the shop or the applicant.
• The Licensing Sub-Committee possesses the authority to grant, reject, or attach specific conditions to the licence to uphold licensing objectives.

Romford (East London Times) September 21, 2026 – Councillors are set to evaluate a premises-licence application for a convenience shop in Harold Hill following formal representations from the Metropolitan Police regarding local alcohol-fuelled antisocial behaviour. Havering Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to convene on Monday, 21 September, to deliberate on the submission made by Roseland News, situated at 69 Farnham Road. The upcoming hearing brings the commercial application into direct focus alongside community safety measures currently underway in the local area.

What evidence have the Metropolitan Police submitted to the committee?

Supplementary evidence presented to the council by a Metropolitan Police ward sergeant indicates that street drinking in the immediate vicinity of Farnham Road has recently demonstrated a renewed increase. According to the officer’s submission, the location operates within a designated Clear, Hold, Build initiative—a joint framework involving police and community partners designed to tackle rooted criminality and public disorder. The police representation highlights that both local residents and community representatives have repeatedly expressed worry regarding alcohol-related incidents disturbing the area.

How does single-can alcohol availability impact local antisocial behaviour?

Within the documentation provided to the licensing authority, police argue that the retail sale and easy availability of individual cans of high-strength alcohol directly exacerbate local nuisance issues. The submission states that such sales frequently contribute to wider societal problems, including violent encounters, theft, shoplifting, public urination, public defecation, and general aggressive conduct such as shouting and swearing in public spaces.

Which specific incidents were reported near the premises in July?

The police submission outlines a selection of specific occurrences logged during the month of July to illustrate the prevailing conditions in the area. These records include a reported robbery during which an intoxicated individual was allegedly struck in the face. Furthermore, official logs record the issuance of an antisocial-behaviour warning alongside an incident of criminal damage involving a street bin set alight.

What power does the Licensing Sub-Committee hold over the application?

These submissions represent evidence and formal police concerns put forward for the sub-committee’s deliberation; they do not represent findings of wrongdoing or administrative determinations against Roseland News or the individual licence applicant. As the application remains pending, the Licensing Sub-Committee maintains full statutory authority to assess whether granting the licence aligns with the required licensing objectives. The panel holds the option to approve the licence, refuse it entirely, or mandate strict conditions—such as restrictions on high-strength alcohol sales—before reaching a decision. Full meeting documentation remains accessible via Havering Council, with further reporting on the panel’s eventual verdict to follow.

What is the background to this licensing development?

The licensing hearing for Roseland News occurs within the operational framework of the Clear, Hold, Build strategy active in Harold Hill. Developed nationally by the Home Office and adopted by police forces across England and Wales, the multi-agency model aims to restore security to areas affected by organized crime and persistent antisocial behaviour. Under the “Clear” phase, law enforcement targets active offenders; the “Hold” phase prevents new criminal groups from moving in; and the “Build” phase relies on local authorities, businesses, and residents to establish long-term community resilience.

In urban commercial parades such as Farnham Road, licensing applications frequently become key focus points during the “Hold” and “Build” phases. Licensing authorities regularly evaluate whether off-licence premises could inadvertently undermine local regeneration efforts by increasing the accessibility of cheap, high-strength alcoholic beverages.

What is the prediction for local residents and retail stakeholders?

The outcome of the Licensing Sub-Committee’s decision will directly influence local trade dynamics and public amenity in Harold Hill. Should the sub-committee grant the premises licence without conditions, local residents may experience heightened concern regarding street drinking and associated public order issues around Farnham Road. Conversely, if the panel imposes strict conditions—such as banning single-can sales or restricting the alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage of beverages sold—it could establish a regulatory precedent for other convenience stores within the borough.

For the applicant and local traders, stringent licensing conditions may limit potential retail revenue from alcohol sales, but could simultaneously foster a safer trading environment by reducing instances of shoplifting and intimidation. Ultimately, the decision will signal the extent to which Havering Council intends to align its commercial licensing enforcement with active police crime-reduction frameworks.