• CLLR Richard Olszewski is quoted saying the late-night levy would continue to be charged despite curfew restrictions, (Pubs still face late night levy bills despite 10pm curfew, September 24).

He implied that police would continue to support the “business community”. This is wholly wrong.

The late-night levy funding may only be used to cover the cost of policing during the hours of, and directed at, the late-night economy.

It cannot be used for the benefit of the general “business community”. They cannot police a business sector that is closed with no custom.

A recent Freedom of Information request to both Camden and the Met revealed that previous funding had been wholly diverted to policing.

Indeed some of the funds had, as admitted by the Met, been used wrongly to fund operations out with the time periods mandated by the government.

This was raised by the leader of the council opposition. This is fraudulant at worst or misguided at best and deserves to be fully exposed as such.

The council should not charge for a service that cannot benefit the part of the community that funds it due to that party being closed down through no fault of theirs.

This levy has been mismanaged and abused, and achieved little of its core function since inception, and it’s time this con-trick stopped.

KEN WRIGHT
Managing Director
Phoenix Arts Club