Street drinking in Mitcham town centre is a problem police are struggling to deal with, a meeting has heard.

Police licensing officer Russ Stevens said at a Merton Council meeting last night (September 17) that drinkers congregate on benches under the clock tower in the town centre, saying the area has been “completely taken over by street drinkers,” with problems including urinating in the street and the verbal abuse of passers by.

The “very worst” was a murder in Mitcham in May which PC Stevens said was “linked to alcohol”.

“It is a very well documented problem that we have street drinkers congregating in the area,” said PC Stevens.

“Despite the amount of money spent (on Mitcham town centre) by the council it still has a feeling of poverty and a feeling of crime because of the street drinkers hanging around there.”

PC Stevens said police had tried “a number of different measures” to deal with the problem with no success.

“Unfortunately the police officers approach them and they hide their drink or accept their drink is to be confiscated and go and buy more – it is a situation we can’t get on top of,” added the licensing officer.

He made the comments in relation to an application from Mitcham News in Upper Green East to start serving alcohol from 9am to 11pm.

Applicant Kaluwa Handi said in an application that the family-run newsagent currently sells sweets, papers and tobacco.

But the past year two shops have had their alcohol licences revoked for contributing to the problem but PC Stevens said there are still 12 other shops serving alcohol within 300 metres of Mitcham News.

Mrs Handi told the meeting: “My main business is newspapers and magazines.

“Because the shops selling alcohol lost their licences [my customers] asked if I could get a licence.

“I know it is really hard to have the licence and keep the licence so we would be extra careful with the customers who come into the shop.”

She added that the shop would focus on higher quality drinks and not stock high strength beers or single cans.

But this was not enough to convince the panel  and the application was refused.

Chairman of the committee Cllr Nick Draper said: “The committee took into account the collective impact and was not satisfied the application would not contribute. 

“I am afraid we won’t accept this application, sorry about that.”