A high street off-licence blamed for widespread child drunkenness, emergency hospital admissions and disorder faces having its drinks licence removed.

The police have called on Richmond Council to remove the drinks licence from the establishment amid concerns girls as young as 12 have been admitted to hospital.

The move comes amid evidence that Richmond has a particular problem with drunkenness among children.

The Police said: "Since 2015/16, Richmond borough has had the highest level of hospital admissions for alcohol-specific conditions out of all the London boroughs.

"The latest 2019/20 rate for Richmond is 33 per 100,000 young persons, which is highest harm level when compared to nearest neighbour group boroughs and higher than London (15.4 per 100,000) and England (30.7 per 100,000) averages."

The establishment at the centre of the controversy is Twickenham Local at 138-140 Heath Road in the centre of Twickenham, where the licensee has been named as Manmit Singh Golati.

Youngsters buying vodka and other drink are understood to have caused antisocial behaviour around Twickenham Green, causing distress for some residents.

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A police report submitted to the Council said there have been numerous reports from local residents of youngsters buying drink and vapes from the shop without any age checks.

Alongside alcohol it is known that a number of shops in the borough have been selling so-called 'cannabis vapes' or 'spice vapes' to children, which are illegal and contain psychoactive chemicals.

A list of incidents reported to police includes -

* Officers attended West Middlesex Hospital in regards to a 12 year old female being bought in whilst being heavily intoxicated.

* Resident stated: "I am a resident of Hampton and would like to report a shop in Twickenham which has been repeatedly selling both alcohol and vapes to underage children."

* Two females wearing school uniform were seen in the shop about to buy a vape at the counter.

* Shop selling alcohol to underage persons - served an underage teenager a bottle of scotch.

* Resident reported to police: "I was going past Twickenham local on Heath Road, Twickenham, I noticed two school girls at the counter about to purchase a vape."

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* Resident reported: "Twickenham Local store/off license selling alcohol to underage children 12, 13 years old upward."

* Informant has reported that the shop Twickenham Local … has been selling alcohol to minors, the informant witnessed the shop selling alcohol to underage girls.

* Twickenham Local is STILL selling alcohol (vodka) and vapes to underage children.

* Resident reported: "Another Friday night with a 14 year old returning home drunk."

The police report concludes: "Since the opening of this venue there has been an increase in Anti-Social Behaviour surrounding the venue and Twickenham Green, a five minute walk away used by local families and Twickenham Cricket Club.

"This has produced gatherings sometimes of up to 60 children, some with alcohol. This has raised concerns of safety for residents walking through the park during the hours of darkness.

"Twickenham Green is also surround by two busy roads in and out of Twickenham and police have grave concerns that an intoxicated child may fall or walk into this road resulting in an accident. If this is not stopped this will continue with the warmer weather approaching and longer evenings putting even more children at risk."

The Council's Licensing Sub-Committee is due to consider an application to remove the alcohol licence for the shop at a meeting on Wednesday – June 15.

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