Camden seeks views on continuing its ‘late night levy’

Camden Council is seeking the views of residents on the operation of its Late Night Levy (LNL) — a charge applied to businesses which sell alcohol between midnight and 6am.

The charge helps to fund additional policing to deal with crime, disorder, and public nuisance in “high-activity areas such as Camden Town, Holborn and Tottenham Court Road”.

A public consultation to gather the views from residents and community organisations on proposed changes to how the Levy operates will inform recommendations to Full Council in March 2026.

The levy funds “72 hours of additional high-visibility policing every week, helping reduce theft, violent crime and antisocial behaviour”, and ensures late-night businesses “contribute fairly to managing the costs of the night-time economy”, says the council.

Following an independent review in 2025, the council proposes to retain the existing levy but make a number of changes to address “fairness and transparency issues raised by businesses and stakeholders”.

These would include providing monthly police updates on officer hours, activities, arrests, seizures, and safeguarding interventions to an expanded LNL consultative group.

Proposals being considered include extending the Levy to late-night refreshment premises “to reflect their role in the late-night economy and to increase fairness”; “Retain or introduce exemptions and reductions for community premises and amateur sports clubs”; and maintain “BID reductions but require evidence of activity that reduces the negative impacts on the night-time economy for levy-paying businesses to benefit from the 30 percent relief”.

The levy would also fund a dedicated late night manager to oversee Levy-funded initiatives, and champion safety in the night-time economy.

Public consultation: Late Night Levy Review. Deadline for comments is 11 January 2026.

Background information: Late Night Levy, Camden Council Licensing Committee, 24 November 2025.

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