Convenience Store Keeps Licence Despite Allegations of Stolen Goods

The Metropolitan Police, in collaboration with Kingston Council, announced that Coombe Convenience Store in Coombe Vale can retain its licence, following allegations of dealing in stolen goods in April. The store had items seized by the police, including alcohol, which were taken under suspicion of being stolen. However, after a lack of evidence was found, the police dropped their investigation, and the store's owner, Kanapathipillai Kumaran, was able to present a clean slate to the council's licensing hearing.

Key Takeaways:

• The Coombe Convenience Store had items seized by the police on 17 April, including alcohol suspected of being stolen, leading to a request to Kingston Council to strip the premises licence.
• The Met Police confirmed they had dropped the investigation due to a lack of evidence, and the store's owner presented a 22-year history of operating legally without incident.
• Store owner Kanapathipillai Kumaran has never been in trouble before, with over 6,000 lines of product sold in the store, and a strong personal connection with the community.
• The store will now operate under an amended condition, holding onto CCTV footage for 90 days, instead of the usual 31 days.
• The store's owner, Kanapathipillai Kumaran, attributed the accumulation of items to gifts from customers, which he would then sell in the store.
• The council deliberated in private before making the decision to allow the store to keep its licence.

Statistics:

• 22 years: the length of time Kanapathipillai Kumaran has owned and operated the Coombe Convenience Store.
• 6,000: the number of lines of product sold in the store.
• 90 days: the new timeframe for holding onto CCTV footage, up from 31 days.
• 12 August 2023: the date of the council's licensing hearing.

Sources:

• The Metropolitan Police
• Kingston Council
• "Met police drop investigation into Kingston shop after CCTV footage deemed 'inadequate'" (BBC News, no date provided)