• Newham Licensing Team and Met Police tackle criminal business threatening residents
A dangerous business involved in illegal sale of late night alcohol and food - which resulted in anti-social behaviour - will remain closed until early October 2023 – following a joint operation between the Newham Licensing Team and the Metropolitan Police.
The Sisko fish café at 151-153 Barking Road E6, East Ham was ordered to close in April following complaints about illegal unlicensed alcohol sales, and numerous complaints from residents about noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour.
However, during a follow up visit by Licensing officers and the Met Police in June – a man was found on the premises along with evidence the closure order imposed by Stratford Magistrates was being flouted.
A search of the building found clear evidence that a commercial kitchen was still in use and there was commercial food waste and payment devices to indicate there was food preparation and sales going on.
Further investigation showed evidence of infestation, with rat droppings throughout the building and kitchen area.
There was further concern raised about illegal connections to both an electrical supply and a water supply which were deemed to be dangerous. Officers from London Fire Brigade attended as did a team from EDF energy. The power and water supplies have been switched off.
The building has been made secure and is now boarded up at both the front and rear of the building.
A man who was arrested at the premises appeared at Stratford magistrates and was found guilty of ignoring the closure order, fined and made to pay costs.
Cllr Amar Virdee, Cabinet member from Community Safety and Crime said: “This successful joint operation between Newham Licensing team and the Metropolitan police shows our determination to stamp out illegal trade, especially where it leads to anti-social behaviour and disruption for our residents.
“This illegal business not only caused our residents distress as a result of late night noise and disruption, but posed a real safety risk. I shudder to think about the potential consequences of eating anything prepared in this environment.
“Those who chose to flout the law in this illegal business also had no regards to the very serious potential threat to life, created by the highly dangerous electrical and water supply connections which posed a genuine fire risk to other buildings in the immediate area.
“We will continue to police those businesses which choose to operate outside the law and put our residents in harm’s way.”
