Police have objected to a fast food giant’s application to open later in Aberdeen and voiced fears about a hike in anti-social behaviour.
McDonald’s at Kittybrewster Retail Park have applied to the city council for permission to stay open until 2am.
It currently closes at midnight, with the council’s licensing committee poised to discuss the application next Tuesday.
But the proposal has already attracted opposition from the north-east’s most senior police officer.
Chief Superintendent Campbell Thomson has written to the committee raising fears about anti-social behaviour and revealing that officers had been called to the outlet more than a 15 times this year alone.
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He wrote: “The premises, which are in a predominantly residential area, has recently experienced an increase in incidents of disorder.
“In 2019 to date, Police Scotland has received 16 calls relating specifically to youth disorder during the later afternoon and evening, for incidents such as causing unreasonable mess, abusive language towards staff, refusing to leave the premises when asked to do so by staff and blocking the entrance with cycles.”
He recommended that the application be refused but urged councillors, if they approve, to initially run a six-month trial of the new opening hours at the restaurant.
The letter added: “Given the location of the premises and its proximity to the city centre, it can also be reasonably anticipated that it may be frequented by persons, during the early hours, who have left licensed premises within the city centre area.
“It is also reasonable to anticipate that it may be frequented during the later hours by youths and persons who have been consuming alcohol… which may lead to alcohol-related crime and disorder.”