THE Metropolitan Police made a passionate plea to licensing chiefs yesterday, Thursday, urging them to block KFC from opening until 3am in a West End crime “hotspot”.

Westminster PC Thomas Cooke said young people getting a late-night takeaway would be targeted by muggers and conmen as they left the branch in Charing Cross Road, and the application if granted would be in clear breach of city council policies.

A licensing meeting heard an application from the company to extend its hours until 3am, seven days a week. Representatives for KFC said there was no evidence the late licence would worsen crime in the West End.

PC Cooke told the meeting: “Crime is extremely high.

“And who is around these streets at 3.30 in the morning? Thanks to KFC being open the general public will be there, and they are the next victims of crime.

“Who is it going to be? It’s not going to be a shopper.

“It’s most likely going to be young people going to the venue.

“Where do they go after that?

“Are we setting them up to sit with a box in an area where we know robberies are high?

“It won’t be great when they are accosted by someone who wants them to come round the corner, or if they are getting harassed by someone wanting money.

“Young people between ages of 19-26 are those mostly affected and mostly at risk of robbery in this area.”

He added: “Why are we keeping so many people in a location?

“Why are we risking them come to harm? ‘Hello mate, how are you, had a good night? Now come round the corner’.

“Then there’s watch robberies, violent robberies.

“This is against the policy, the core hours of the council.”

PC Cooke also spoke about how making a late-night arrest could take an officer off the street as they take someone to custody for “up to seven to eight hours”.

Last year Adil – the company that owns dozens of chain outlets across the United Kingdom including KFC and Burger King – bought the Cascade Estate including 43 Charing Cross Road.

The general manager of the Adil Group submitted a long report to the committee that included statements from five experts that said the venue should not be considered as “a destination venue” and pointed to a similar late-night KFC in Cambridge.

It also said that in 2022 Westminster allowed Taco Bell to open until 3am seven days a week in Edgware Road, Paddington.

Adil’s lawyer at the meeting said “there was no evidence” to back up criticism of what would happen if the licence was approved, and added: “They say this is a big hotspot. But they are not there, they are not around, because nothing is happening there. If we are not doing these bad things, then it ought to be granted, because why would you stop something that is providing a safe service to people?

“PC Cooke says they will hang around and loiter etc.

“All these assertions… and yet we have tested it and we haven’t heard a peep of opposition.”

He said that customers would “pass through, use the loo, grab some food and go on their way in less than three minutes”, adding: “My client is deservedly confident it won’t add to cumulative impact.”

The KFC is in the cumulative impact zone of the West End that is supposed to be governed by stricter licensing policies than other areas in Westminster.

Part of the plan will see KFC employ two “security employees”, with one standing in the street picking up litter from midnight to 3am.

“This is unusual and we hope that it is notable,” the rep told the committee. “The person will be there for three hours sweeping.

“We are happy to have it on whichever side of the road.”

A decision is expected next week.