Drug dealers running riot at Food City Express in Seven Sisters Road, say police
Mohamed was struck with a glass bottle. - Credit: Archant
Police claim dealers are storming a Finsbury Park shop every day to intimidate staff and customers, steal stock and sell drugs.
The atmosphere outside Food City in Seven Sisters Road has been described as “very threatening” because of drugs and gang problems and it has been named by worried locals in meetings with Hackney mayor Phil Glanville.
The shocking revelations were made by licensing officer Pc Kerrie Ryan in a report to Hackney Council objecting to a bid for an alcohol licence by the shop.
It comes months after charity boss Mohamed Nacer, whose office is above the shop, was bottled after confronting a group outside.
Pc Ryan said she had spoken to the local police team and they had “huge concerns” about the application.
Mohamed had gone outside to speak to the group. - Credit: Archant
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She said: “Food City has been named in recent resident meetings, chaired by the mayor, as being a contributing factor to the continuing problems in this area.
“Residents have been offered drugs outside the shop and describe the groups hanging around the shop as being very threatening.
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“They also state that the shop being open 24 hours a day, they feel, is a huge contributing factor to the ASB, drugs and gang problems here.
“The police licensing unit have also received intelligence that a group of males attend the shop every day. They allegedly go behind the counter and intimidate the staff and customers, steal items and sell drugs.”
Food City Express in Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park. Picture: Google Maps - Credit: Archant
Pc Ryan said the applicant, Omer Tellioglu, had told police he didn’t usually report the crimes, something that was “not the attitude of a responsible operator”.
She continued: “A huge issue is that the applicant told police he doesn’t usually call police as he has accepted these are the type of people his shop attracts. The sale of alcohol in the shop will potentially fuel existing problems.
“It has also been alleged that although the shop does not currently have a premises licence and is not authorised to sell alcohol, they are, in fact, supplying the local street drinkers with alcohol and adding to the problems with street drinking in the area.”
The Gazette visited the shop but staff did not comment.
