Tower Hamlets Council's Late Night Levy has significantly boosted police patrols and street cleaning efforts across the borough, according to a review by the council.
During the 2025/26 financial year, the Levy, which applies to premises licensed to sell alcohol between midnight and 6 am, generated a total income of £296,084.83. A substantial portion of this revenue, £209,144.69, was allocated to additional police patrols aimed at reducing crime and disorder, enhancing public safety, and deterring anti-social behaviour.
These patrols have been instrumental in responding to serious incidents. Specific examples of positive outcomes include responses to GBH serious assaults, knife crime, safeguarding vulnerable individuals, and disruption of drug supply. Incidents addressed ranged from violent assaults and affrays involving weapons to mental health crises requiring police intervention. Furthermore, dedicated patrols focused on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) initiatives, including awareness campaigns like #DontCrossTheLine, were funded, aiming to deter offending and protect vulnerable people.
The effectiveness of the VAWG initiatives and the #DontCrossTheLine campaign was assessed through various activities. The VAWG vehicle deployment focused on deterring offending and safeguarding vulnerable individuals, with proactive interventions in potential harassment situations and domestic assault cases. Licensed venue entry control measures and general high-visibility patrols also contributed to safer environments. The #DontCrossTheLine campaign, a joint initiative with Hackney, aims to tackle sexual harassment through targeted awareness and partnership working. Over 175 members of the public and local businesses were engaged during a coordinated campaign focused on anti-spiking, public safety, and behaviour change, with safety messaging and materials distributed. Licensed venues were equipped with drink spiking prevention tools and awareness resources.
Beyond policing, £50,000 was dedicated to enhanced street cleansing, mitigating the environmental impact of the late-night economy and ensuring a cleaner urban environment. An additional £5,850 was invested in Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) training for 260 staff across Tower Hamlets and Hackney, equipping them to identify vulnerability and intervene appropriately.
The breakdown of the £331,181.21 expenditure across the different categories of initiatives is as follows: Additional Police Serials Patrols: £209,144.69; Additional Street Cleansing: £50,000.00; Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE) Training: £5,850.00; Booking fee for venue (WAVE Training): £40.24; Reprographic services: £2,606.70; and Coordinator Costs: £63,539.58.
Despite the expenditure of £331,181.21 on these initiatives, resulting in a drawdown of £35,096 from reserves, the committee noted a healthy balance of £37,899 remaining in the reserve fund for the upcoming year. This information is detailed in the Public reports pack for the Licensing Committee meeting on 09 June 2026. Public reports pack 09th-Jun-2026 19.05 Licensing Committee.pdf
