Illegal street traders tackled by seven-day-a-week enforcement

Illegal traders, including ice cream vans, hot dog carts and peanut sellers, are being moved on from some of Kensington and Chelsea’s best-known streets thanks to new enforcement patrols.

It comes after we started patrolling seven days a week to tackle illegal street trading. We have used existing budgets to fund extra officers who are now carrying out the patrols in places where illegal trading is known to happen.

This includes Exhibition Road and the museums, Brompton Road, Basil Street near Harrods, Sloane Square and the King’s Road. Patrols can be moved if illegal trading is reported in other parts of the borough.

Officers can issue £150 fines, known as Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), to people caught trading illegally. They can also collect evidence which could be used to take offenders to court.

Are the patrols working?

The patrols are already having an impact. In one week alone, officers issued 12 FPNs in the Basil Street and Exhibition Road areas. Their presence is also forcing illegal traders to move on, with some no longer returning to places where they used to trade.

Cllr Johnny Thalassites, Lead Member for Enforcement, said:

 

“Illegal traders bring noise, pollution and disruption to some of our most popular streets, whilst undercutting legitimate firms who go about their business the correct way.

 

“It’s not fair on businesses, residents or visitors and we won’t tolerate it in our borough. Our officers are now on patrol every day of the week, so there’s no place to hide if you come to Kensington and Chelsea to trade illegally.”

Why are we taking this action?

The Council is taking action because illegal street trading can cause problems for residents, visitors and businesses.

Engines left running can cause noise and air pollution, and vans and stalls can create litter, block pavements and roads, and get in the way of buses, emergency vehicles and other traffic.

Traders without a licence can also cause concerns about food safety, charge high or unclear prices and can unfairly compete with businesses that follow the rules.