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You are in: London > London Local > Tower Hamlets > Work and Money > Clampdown on Brick Lane curry touts

Curry

Clampdown on Brick Lane curry touts

Restaurants who approach customers in the street face a £20,000 fine following a ban on touting across Tower Hamlets. The ban is targeted at curry restaurants on Brick Lane.

By Angela Saini

There are more than 50 restaurants on Brick Lane in East London, known as the city's “Curry Capital”. According to local restaurant owners, some began touting for customers as long as a decade ago, hoping to lure people with promises of cheap deals on meals.

But after a number of complaints from visitors and residents of Brick Lane, Tower Hamlets Council has introduced a byelaw, which bans touting throughout the borough.

"It began with just one or two touting for business but this started to affect some other restaurants so badly that they had to start doing the same and before long the situation spiralled," said Tower Hamlets Councillor Abdal Ullah.

The council received complaints that the touts were harassing and intimidating people, and they became concerned that it would put people off from returning to the area.

Previously restaurants were encouraged to sign up voluntarily against touting but the new byelaw enables the council and the police to take action directly against the tout.  People who breach the byelaw on Brick Lane could face fines of up to £500.

In addition, Tower Hamlets Council has added an anti-touting condition to any restaurant that holds a licence on or near Brick Lane. Breaching this condition could end in fine of up to £20,000 or six months imprisonment, or both.

last updated: 13/05/2008 at 17:28
created: 09/10/2006

Have Your Say

Local
Do you think this is just not a little out of proportion: Brick Lane is one of the safest places in my experience (and i'm a female) and I beleive that the touts add to the atmosphere! Lighten up people and enjoy an area that has a culture and atmosphere unlike any other area of London.

Tom B
Curry touts are harmless and part of the Brick Lane curry experience enjoyed by the majority. They should not have been banned, it is in keeping with the local area and atmosphere. People who feel upset by their presence should go to more up market curry houses in central London. However if they want to experience real Bangladeshi food and culture then they should step out of their comfort zones, take a walk down Brick Lane and try a bit of bartering.

Kathryn King
Everytime I go to Brick Lane I am approached by curry touts so the ban is definitely not working!

local
it is even worse now..the police are turning a blind eye to it,and it is incredibly dangerous just to walk down bricklane with a female companion.

suzi
I live beside Brick Lane and last night I was hassled eleven times between princelet st and old montague st. The touts are intimidating, omnipresent and clearly completely unconcerned about this legislation.

Michael Ludson
I was in brick lane on friday 12th January with four other friends, every restaurat had one or two touts outside offering discounted cuury, the worst offenders were the Bengal cuisine, the moonlight, the mosoon, the chutneys. one of the restaurants even offered us a free taxi home

Alex
Why ban it, it was a great way of getting a discount and finding different restaurants.

anon
I live above a curry house on Brick Lane and the touting continues!!

Caroline Huff
Excellent - at last! I find it SO annoying!!!

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