Finsbury Park cafe where four mass brawls took place shut by police using new powers

A cafe where four mass brawls have taken place in the last few weeks has been shut down by police using new powers.

Officers stormed into Cafe Sham, in Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, last night and hit the venue with a 24-hour closure notice under new legislation introduced in October.

Today they will take their case to Highbury Corner Magistrates Court in a bid to shut the place for up to three months.

The action was prompted by four violent incidents in and outside the cafe, as well as complaints from people in the area about fights, shouting, spitting, and being accosted by punters on their way home.

Officer also believe the venue was selling alcohol without a license.

Richard Padwell, Inspector for Islington East Cluster Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “This property has had a serious detrimental effect upon the lives of residents within this borough.

“If this order is granted, it will be the first in Islington borough and will enable those residents to feel safe and sends a clear message that premises causing these levels of disorder and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated by police.

“Those people who use their premises, or allow their business to be used, in this way, should be prepared to have their premises closed down.”