Croydon Council grants 24/7 gambling licence despite opposition

Croydon Council has approved a licence extension for Admiral AGC to operate 24 hours a day at 6 Westow Hill, Upper Norwood. The decision follows opposition from local residents, MPs, and councillors across four London boroughs, who raised concerns about potential harm to vulnerable individuals and increased anti-social behaviour.

Concerns over vulnerable residents

The extension means the adult gaming centre (AGC) can now operate continuously, an increase from its previous hours of 8am to midnight. The venue will be staffed by at least two people between 8pm and 8am. Opponents argued that the 24/7 operation could exacerbate financial difficulties for vulnerable residents already experiencing hardship, potentially leading to increased debt. Councillor Claire Bonham, representing Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, stated that addiction is a social disease with significant consequences for the most vulnerable in the community.

The facility is located within Croydon Council's boundaries but is close to Bromley and Lambeth, with Southwark also nearby. Petitions organised in neighbouring boroughs attracted thousands of signatures against the application. MPs including Steve Reed and Liam Conlon, along with councillors from Croydon, Bromley, and Southwark, voiced their opposition at the licensing meeting on September 10. They argued the extended hours could negatively impact residents in nearby hostels, hotels, and sheltered accommodation.

Operator's defence and licensing principles

Luxury Leisure, the operator, and Croydon Council contended that the licence extension would not conflict with the licensing objectives. Mark Thompson, Risk and Compliance Director for Luxury Leisure, stated that in his experience, there was no correlation between the centre's opening hours and increases in crime or anti-social behaviour. The operator's legal representative, Paul Greaney KC, noted the absence of objections from the police and argued that decisions should be based on whether licensing objectives were met, rather than on moral or ethical arguments about gambling.

Under the Gambling Act, local authorities must grant a licence unless it undermines one of the four objectives: preventing crime and disorder, ensuring public safety, preventing public nuisance, and protecting children from harm. Councillor Bonham also referenced a study from the University of Essex's Institute for Social and Economic Research, which indicated a correlation between gambling outlets and increased crime.

Government plans for community power

In August, the government announced plans to reform gambling laws, which would remove the 'aim to permit' rule. This change aims to give local authorities greater power to oppose new betting shops and 24-hour gaming centres. Plans also include introducing Gambling Impact Assessments to evaluate the potential harm from concentrations of gambling venues and requiring planning permission for new AGCs.

Oscar Harman, a Crystal Palace resident, welcomed these proposed changes, stating they are essential for empowering communities. He expressed frustration at the prospect of a gambling operator prioritising round-the-clock profits and potentially attracting anti-social behaviour to the area. The proposed reforms are expected to come into effect at the start of next year.