The Met Police have opposed a south west London supermarket's plans to sell booze until 2am over fears it would lead to more anti-social behaviour in the area.

Mediterranean Supermarket, in Twickenham, wants to extend the time it stops selling booze from 11pm to 2am every day, as part of its plans to stay open 24 hours a day.

But the Met Police and Richmond Council's environmental health services lodged objections to the booze plans, which were considered at a licensing hearing on October 14. They raised concerns drunk customers leaving other venues in Twickenham would be drawn to the supermarket, on Heath Road, if it sold booze into the early hours of the morning.

PC Joel Clewett said this would result in more neighbours being disturbed. He said: "I believe it's likely to attract persons finishing their night at other premises further down into Twickenham where the sale of alcohol has ended and thus increase the likelihood of street drinking and anti-social behaviour."

PC Clewett's statement to the council ahead of the hearing outlined how the supermarket is close to Twickenham Green, which is plagued by anti-social behaviour from youngsters who congregate there after buying booze nearby. He claimed the supermarket selling booze so late would increase the likelihood of theft or other crimes.

Keith Aris, the council's senior environmental health officer, also raised concerns residents would be disturbed if the plans went ahead. He said: "There's also an issue with regards to the anti-social behaviour… when patrons leave pubs and then go off to try and purchase more alcohol. Loitering around certain supermarkets or shops can create a lot of noise nuisance and disturbance to the local residents."

But Mustafa Haligur, a partner of the business, told the hearing the supermarket did not cause any issues in the area. He said: "We've been running the business since 2021 as a very successful service to the customers, all the residents in the area. We get good [comments] from customers… we've been hearing bad things, but they are not related to us."

The supermarket proposed adding extra conditions to the licence to make sure it does not cause any issues in the area, on top of following existing conditions. This includes complying with age verification policy, appropriately training staff and locking up alcohol when the venue remains open outside the hours it is allowed to sell booze. It already has permission to open 24 hours a day, but currently shuts at 11pm.

Richmond Council will publish its decision on the plans in the coming days.