Greggs bids to open two 24 hour shops in Birmingham city centre - but not everyone is happy

Greggs has locked horns with police over a bid to keep two of its city centre bakeries open 24 hours a day. The stores at 41 High Street and 85 New Street applied for the 24/7 licences in June and are the subject of a city council hearing today (Monday, August 21).

Police have objected to the plan, claiming the late-night hours have the potential to increase crime and disorder. Birmingham is not the first city in the UK where the bakery giant is looking to open 24-hour stores – the special licences have also been sought in Liverpool, Canterbury and Westminster.

The two Birmingham stores are currently open from 6am/6.30am to 10pm most days of the week, while the new hours would keep the ovens on between 11pm and 5am. Police have instead suggested a closing time of 12.30am from Sunday to Thursday and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Officer Mark Swallow of the police licensing team said Greggs has not yet responded to his concerns. The fast food bakery did suggest that it would have door security employed on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Mr Swallow wrote in his letter to the council: “West Midlands Police believe that if the applications were to be granted in their present form this would have a detrimental effect on the licensing objectives in particular that this would lead to increased crime and disorder in the area.

“West Midlands Police have suggested measures, ie earlier closing times to the applicants to mitigate this issue, however, the applicants have not responded to this. West Midlands Police would therefore wish to object to the applications based upon their detrimental impact on the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective.”

In its application, Greggs said: “A suitable and sufficient CCTV system with recording facilities will be in place at the site and will operate at all times the premises is open. A minimum of one SIA door supervisor will be employed from 11pm to 5am the following day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.” The city council licensing hearing will take place today (Monday, August 21).