A BID to make certain businesses in Hereford pay more for policing is "grossly unfair", a leading group has said.

Hereford Business Improvement District said the Home Office is currently running a public consultation on a "late night levy".

That could see Herefordshire Council and licencing authorities across the country collect money from businesses that sell alcohol and put it towards policing, Hereford BID said.


Sign up for our free daily afternoon news briefing here and the day's top stories will be delivered straight to your inbox.


The group, which represents hundreds of firms in the city centre, said costs towards policing were already being paid through taxes and it would be "grossly unfair to burden struggling premises with further fees".

OTHER NEWS:

It added: "With only 9 local authorities implementing the levy, these reforms may make it more likely that others will follow.

"Exemptions from the levy are possible, at the discretion of the licensing authority, and reasons include ‘where there is already a business improvement district’."

It encouraged businesses to take p[art in the Government consultation, which is available until April.