Barking and Dagenham Council Tightens Controls on Betting Shops Amidst Gambling Harm Concerns
Barking and Dagenham Council is set to implement stricter controls on betting shops, responding to significant concerns raised by residents regarding gambling-related harm. The council's Cabinet has recommended the adoption of an updated Statement of Gambling Licensing Policy for 2026-2029, which aims to bolster safeguarding measures and mitigate the negative impacts of gambling.
During a public consultation, residents voiced strong concerns about the density of betting shops, particularly in deprived areas like Barking Town Centre and Dagenham Heathway. Some felt the draft policy was insufficient, advocating for outright bans or removal from areas with high poverty levels. Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement, acknowledged these sentiments, stating the council would actively use new government powers to prevent the opening of new betting shops
to the maximum extent possible.
These new government powers allow the council to prevent the establishment of new betting shops. Councillor Ghani highlighted the correlation between betting shops and deprived neighbourhoods, referencing areas like London Road in Newham, which once had a high concentration of betting shops in a square mile. He suggested that the proliferation of such establishments in impoverished areas can create a false sense of hope, potentially leading individuals into worse circumstances rather than offering a genuine escape from hardship.
The updated policy framework, reviewed every three years as mandated by the Gambling Act 2005, aims to ensure legal compliance and enhance the council's approach to safeguarding vulnerable residents. While the council cannot refuse applications solely based on the proximity of existing premises, the local area profile identifies significant clusters of betting shops in Barking Town Centre (11 premises) and Dagenham Heathway (5 premises). These areas are characterised by high deprivation, crime, and anti-social behaviour.
The criteria used to determine 'high deprivation, crime, and anti-social behaviour levels' are detailed in Appendix D of the Gambling Licensing Policy. This Local Area Profile considers factors such as deprivation and financial vulnerability, crime and anti-social behaviour hotspots, proximity to educational institutions, gambling premises clustering, and broader indicators of community vulnerability. For instance, the cluster of five betting premises in Dagenham Heathway is situated in one of the borough's most impoverished areas with above-average crime and anti-social behaviour rates. Similarly, the 11 betting premises in Barking Town Centre are located in a highly deprived area with the highest recorded crime levels.
Beyond preventing new openings, the policy also strengthens expectations for existing operators. They will be required to demonstrate through local risk assessments how they will identify, assess, and mitigate local risks associated with their premises, particularly in areas with higher levels of deprivation, vulnerability, or safeguarding concerns.
The policy introduces specific requirements for age verification and staff training. Betting shops must adhere to a 'Challenge 25' proof of age scheme, meaning individuals appearing under 25 attempting to gamble must provide valid identification. All staff are to receive training on the premises' proof of age compliance scheme, with records of this training to be maintained and available for inspection by authorised officers. The updated policy also strengthens expectations around CCTV provision and incident recording.
Councillor Maureen Worby welcomed the policy's emphasis on public health and the impact of gambling, expressing keen interest in how premises will comply with requests for public health notices. The effectiveness of these strengthened safeguarding measures and the mitigation of gambling-related harms will be reviewed throughout the policy's three-year lifespan. This review will involve considering local evidence, intelligence, complaints, compliance issues, enforcement activity, emerging harms, and information from partnerships with Public Health and other agencies. The council will also monitor changes in legislation, Gambling Commission guidance, and best practices.
The Cabinet has recommended the policy to Full Council for adoption. The policy will officially come into effect following the statutory period of advertising after its publication, in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005.