The Met Police has opposed plans from famous chicken shop chain Morley's to open later in a 'violence hotspot' on Fife Road.

Morley's in Kingston town centre wants to extend its opening hours for takeaways and deliveries from 11:30pm to 1am on weekdays.

Solicitor Stephanie Bruce-Smith, representing the Met Police, told Kingston Council's licensing hearing on 16 July the chicken shop is in a 'crime hotspot… due to the high levels of violent crime'. She said the area is also 'known locally by the police due to the anti-social behaviour, including drug use, drug supply and street drinking'.

As a result, Ms Bruce-Smith said, the police believe the proposed extended hours would interfere with its plans to reduce violent crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. She added it can't support the plans 'because the main issue… is not how the premises operates but the operation of this type of premises in this area during these hours'.

Richard Odell, the council's environmental protection officer, also objected to the plans. He wrote in a statement he could not see any need for an extension of the chicken shop's hours as this would 'increase the potential for noise and anti-social behaviour'.

The plans, submitted by Kear79 Ltd, would see the chicken shop extend its opening hours for takeaways and deliveries from 11.30pm to 1am on Sundays to Thursdays if approved. It would also be able to make deliveries until 3am on Fridays and Saturdays. It would close to dining customers at 11pm every day.

Consultant Graham Hopkins, representing the applicant, said no incidents of crime or anti-social behaviour on Fife Road had been linked to Morley's, other than an isolated noise incident. The venue was turned into a branch of Morley's while it was sublet to another operator from October 2022 to April this year.

Mr Hopkins told the hearing the applicant had worked quickly with the police to resolve issues that arose in this time, when he was not running the premises, and it now fully complies with its licence. He added: "This premises will not attract large groups of people… we want to be able to serve customers, people who know this shop well.

"It's built up a reputation, it's a good restaurant and we'd like to have that opportunity to supply them both by home deliveries and customer collections Sunday to Thursday for the additional hour-and-a-half."

The council will publish its decision on the plans in the coming days.