Alsa Express, a convenience store at 442 to 444 Lodge Avenue in Dagenham, has been granted revised alcohol sales hours after a licensing subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. The store's application to extend alcohol sales to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, was ultimately rejected, with a compromise reached on revised operating times.

The Barking and Dagenham Licensing Sub-Committee considered the application to vary the premises' licence, which initially sought 3 am alcohol sales seven days a week. The applicant's reasoning for this request included the store's location on a busy main road with constant traffic, the presence of other 24-hour establishments nearby, and strong community support evidenced by over 200 signatures. The applicant also highlighted the premises' clean trading record and existing Challenge 21 policy.

However, the Metropolitan Police raised significant concerns about potential increases in crime, public nuisance, and risks to public safety. Their representation, detailed in Appendix C - Metropolitan Police representation, cited the proximity of four schools – Monteagle Primary (300m), Eastbury Primary (750m), Child Ville Pre School (600m), and Jo Richardson Community School (1000m) – as well as local parks frequently used for alcohol consumption. The busy A13 intersection, approximately 200 metres away, was also a factor. The police argued that Alsa Express would become one of the latest off-licences in the area, potentially leading to increased anti-social behaviour and criminality through intoxicated individuals.

Despite the police noting no recorded crimes associated with Alsa Express in the 10 months the current applicant had been trading, their concerns were primarily prospective, focusing on the potential for future disorder and the protection of children. The applicant's agent ultimately agreed to the police's proposed revised hours and associated conditions.

The subcommittee determined that granting the original application for 24-hour sales would not promote the licensing objectives. The revised licence now permits alcohol sales from 8 am to 11:30 pm from Monday to Thursday, 8 am to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 10 am to 11:30 pm on Sundays. These revised hours and conditions were agreed upon by the applicant and include operating under a Challenge 21 scheme, maintaining a fully operational CCTV system that retains recordings for at least 31 days and provides them to the police and local authority within 48 hours, keeping a refusals book, ensuring staff are trained on the Licensing Act 2003 responsibilities, and purchasing alcoholic goods from reputable wholesalers.

The decision was made by Councillor Sabbir Zamee (Chair), Councillor Victoria Hornby, and Councillor Regina Rahman. The full details of the application and the committee's report can be found in the Alsa Express Report.