Convenience store was busted twice for selling alcohol to underage children last year

An off-licence which has been busted twice for selling alcohol to children wants to sell booze around the clock every day.

Bestco Supermarket in Kilburn High Road, Kilburn, has applied for a 24-hour alcohol licence from Camden Council despite its trading history.

The convenience store was collared in September last year after a police cadet was sold a bottle of Barcardi Breezer without being challenged on their age.

Two months later another cadet was able to buy a bottle of WKD without any eyebrows being raised.

The shop has also been caught selling alcohol outside of its licensing hours and as a result the police have asked for their application to be turned down.

In addition the police have raised concerns about Bestco selling booze after the pubs are closed as in the last year they have been a catalogue of violent assaults and other crimes along Kilburn High Road.

Emily Firth lives yards away from Bestco and fears the licence would make it difficult for her as a young woman walking home.

She said: “I have already woken up in the early morning to see the police cordoning off the area outside my front door because of violent crime and this license would make it worse.

“The only door to the block of flats where I live opens near the doorway to Bestco and I would feel unsafe coming home at night if there were drunk people about my front door.”

Camden Council are expected to make a decision next month.