West End 'close to anarchy'

The West End is "saturated" with drugdealers, illegal minicab drivers and revellers, it was claimed today.

Guns and violence are common, drugs are dealt openly and certain areas are close to anarchy, says councillor Simon Milton, the Conservative leader of Westminster. He attacked "mega" bars and clubs that encourage "vertical drinking" - where youths stand and drink countless bottles of beer.

Mr Milton said: " There's no other major city in the world, including Paris or New York, where near-anarchy reigns at night."

His views were echoed by residents, who told of having to sleep in their bathrooms to escape noise . Mr Milton told a London Assembly committee investigating the capital's 24-hour culture that the city had "become less attractive to a wide number of people" in the past 10 years. He said: "The late-night entertainment economy has generated a huge amount of rubbish on our streets. The density of people means we can't get cleaning started until 4am. When people have been drinking they behave antisocially ... so the streets of Soho stink of urine in the morning."

He called on the Government to consider a proof of age scheme as part of its review of licensing reform.

He said areas such as Clerkenwell, the City, Holborn and the South Bank should be used as a "safety valve" to establish new pubs and clubs to get the West End "back under control".