Islington set to be in advance guard in implementing late night levy

The London Borough of Islington looks set to become one of the first local authorities in the country to implement the late night levy.

The council is to consult on a new licensing policy in October, with a view to adoption in December. This policy will contain a commitment to adopting the levy.

A specific consultation on the levy will be conducted “once the legislation has come into force later this year”.

The late night levy is being brought in under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011.

It allows licensing authorities to raise a contribution from late-opening suppliers of alcohol towards policing the night-time economy.

Cllr Paul Convery, Islington Council's executive member for community safety, said: "We're on the side of residents who have told us that they are fed up of living with alcohol-related disruption on our streets.

“In Islington we've got more licensed late-night establishments per head of population than almost anywhere else in London.”

Cllr Convery said this meant that there were substantial costs to the council in regulating premises – especially around Angel, Clerkenwell and Old Street – as well as managing the after effects, like cleaning up.

He added: “We've got to find a way of meeting the costs of this and so we'll be including our commitment to adopting the late night levy in our new licensing policy.”