The Metropolitan Police, working alongside Kingston Council, have revealed a convenience store in Coombe Vale can keep its licence after it was alleged to be dealing stolen goods in April.
Coombe Convenience Store had items seized by the police on 17 April, with alcohol was among the items taken under suspicion of being stolen.
The Met Police asked Kingston Council to strip the premises licence as a result.
Police Sergeant, Jeremy Weston, said: “Stolen goods, including alcohol [were taken],” and that the store “was likely used to distribute or sell illicit products.”
However, the police have this week confirmed that it had dropped any further investigation into the store due to a lack of evidence, speaking at the council’s licensing hearing on 12 August.
Agent Gill Sherratt, representing store’s owner, Kanapathipillai Kumaran, told the meeting there was no evidence the items seized had been stolen, or that the shop had been involved in any criminal activity at all.
Ms Sherratt said Mr Kumaran had owned and run Coombe Convenience Store legally for 22 years, helping the community without breaching any conditions on its licence. He said items had accumulated in the shop over this time, and that Kumaran was sometimes given gifts that he would sell in store.
Ms Sherratt added: “Mr Kumaran has owned this premises for over 22 years nd has never been in trouble before. He has over 6,000 lines of product. He works all the hours that he can do to keep his business viable.
“It’s chaotic, but they have a lot of loyal and grateful customers. He has personal relationships with people, which is why a lot of products come in, they go out, they end up on shelves and he does get gifts.”
The committee deliberated in private, before confirming the shop could keep its licence with the amended condition that it must hold onto CCTV for 90 days, instead of 31 days.
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