FEARS about “exacerbating” anti-social behaviour issues have prompted police to object to a West Howe petrol station’s request for a 24-hour alcohol licence.

Bournemouth council will consider Malthurst Retail’s application for an extended licence for its Kinson Road shop on Tuesday (January 22).

But police say they are “concerned” that the area is “at risk” of problems with anti-social behaviour and crime.

The application was submitted at the end of November, seeking permission for the Essex-based owners of the petrol station shop to be able to sell alcohol 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In its submission, Malthurst Retail says that it will ensure that its CCTV system is “fully operational” while the shop is open and that it will have “adequate levels of staff”.

Members of Bournemouth council’s licensing board will consider the application at its meeting on Tuesday but have been urged by police to refuse it.

In a letter to the council, Sgt Gareth Gosling, of Dorset Police’s drug and alcohol harm reduction team, said: “We are concerned that the area is at risk of problems around anti-social behaviour and crime and disorder.

“Dorset Police is of the opinion that the times of operation proposed are beyond Bournemouth council’s statement of licensing policy.”

He adds that “there has been a great deal of cooperation” between shops selling alcohol in the area to avoid “exploiting” people who are “vulnerable to alcohol-related harm”.

“There is already a disproportionately high concentration of alcohol provision in the area of this application and to add an additional provision with such breadth of operating hours would be detrimental to this residential area,” the letter adds.

“By allowing another premises to operate during the hours where crime and disorder is at its peak, it would further exacerbate the problems already experienced within the night-time economy.”

Opposition to the licence application has also been made by the area’s neighbourhood sergeant, Guy Nicholas, who has raised concerns that “local youngsters would be particularly drawn” to the area and that it could have “a detrimental effect” on the community.

The licence application will be considered by Bournemouth council’s licensing board on Tuesday.