Islington reviews plans for late-night levy

The PMA reported last year that Islington had outlined plans to introduce the levy, an annual charge on late-night licensed premises, which can be used to help tackle problems of alcohol-related crime and disorder.

According to Home Office guidance on the levy, licensing authorities must pay at least 70% of the net levy revenue to the police, with the remaining 30% retained to fund services for tackling late-night alcohol-related crime and disorder, and services connected to the management of the night-time economy.

Paul Convery, executive member for community safety at Islington Council, told the PMA last August that the London borough had a “problem” with crime and disorder related to its late-night establishments and that the levy will “help meet the costs” of managing the problem.

However, Convery now says that the Council “will only consider the levy if there is certainty about its proceeds being retained in-borough rather than being held by (London) City Hall”.

“There is no way I’m taking a case to the public to raise extra taxes on Isling-ton businesses unless that money is guaranteed to cover Islington’s policing costs,” Convery explained.

“The whole rationale is that places serving late-night alcohol should pay for the policing and clear-up costs or opt to stop serving after midnight, which then reduces the problem. We probably won’t go ahead if we don’t get that guarantee. I don’t want to tax Islington businesses to fund City Hall.”

A spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime said: “No decision has yet been made about how the proceeds of the late-night levy will be allocated in London, but boroughs can expect to retain a large share of what the levy raises in their area.”

Meanwhile, a number of other London boroughs including Hackney and Wandsworth have said they are not currently considering the late-night levy.