Cops called to fast food chains over 100 times
Police called to city fast food chains over 100 times in last six months
POLICE have been called to McDonald’s and KFC restaurants in Coventry more than 100 times in the last six months. The shocking figure – revealed after a Freedom of Information request by the Coventry Telegraph – show West Midlands Police was called 107 times in total to seven McDonald’s restaurants and five KFC’s in the city between October 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018. The force was called to assist at McDonald’s restaurants 92 times in that time period - with a spike of 26 incidents in December. In comparison, officers were called just 15 times to KFC restaurants in the city in those months. The figure only includes calls where the force actually sent officers to the scene. A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “It is important to note that the incidents above may not necessarily have occurred inside the specified locations, only that the location recorded is the nearest identifiable landmark to the incident.” Here are the reasons why the police were called... McDonald’s Cross Cheaping Police were called to the McDonald’s restaurant in Cross Cheaping in the city centre 33 times – making it the most crime-plagued McDonald’s in the city. Officers were sent to the fast food joint 14 times in response to disorder, once for an unspecified crime and once for a traffic incident. They were also called to the store another 16 times but recorded the reason for their visit as ‘miscellaneous.’ Alvis Retail Park The second McDonald’s restaurant with the most calls to police is the one located in Alvis Retail Park. West Midlands Police has been called 25 times the restaurant in total to in the last six months. That includes three calls in response to crime happening at the store, and seven times over disorder. Officers were also sent there following reports of an unlawful encampment at the restaurant, and responded to one traffic incident. There were 12 other calls recorded as ‘miscellaneous.’ Wigston Road The McDonald’s restaurant in Wigston Road fared slightly better, with police being called a total of 16 times to the store in the last six months. Again, disorder was the most popular reason for police being called, with officers attending eight times for that reason.
The force also responded to two traffic incidents at the store, and were called six times for a ‘miscellaneous’ reason. Gallagher Retail Park Police were called to the McDonald’s restaurant at Gallagher Retail Park a total of seven times in the same time period. The reasons include: One call over a crime happening, one report of disorder, two traffic incidents and three ‘miscellaneous.’ Willenhall Lane Coming down the list, police were called to the McDonald’s restaurant in Willenhall Lane a total of five times. There were two reports of disorder, two traffic incidents and two calls for ‘miscellaneous’ reasons. Arlington Business Park A grand total of five calls have been made to police asking them to visit the McDonald’s restaurant at Arlington Business Park in the last six months.
Disorder was again the most popular reason behind the calls, with officers called three times to the store for that reason. Police were also called one over a traffic incident, and once over a crime. West Orchards shopping centre The safest McDonald’s in the city, according to the figures police were only called once to the fast food chain in the West Orchards shopping centre in those months.
Officers were called to reports of a crime. KFC Walsgrave Road Police were much less likely to be called to KFC restaurants in the city, according to the information released by West Midlands Police.
The restaurant with the highest number of visits from officers was the one in Walsgrave Road, with a total of five visits from police.
Officers were called twice to reports of a crime, once for disorder, once for an alarm and once for a ‘miscellaneous’ reason. Cross Cheaping Cross Cheaping comes in second, with a total of four visits from police.
The force was called three times to reports of disorder there, and one time responded for a ‘miscellaneous’ reason. Vanguard Avenue Officers were called to the KFC restaurant in Vanguard Avenue a total of three times in the six month period. They were called once over disorder, once for an alarm and once for a ‘miscellaneous’ reason. Austin Drive Police were called three times to the KFC restaurant in Austin Drive. Two calls were over disorder, and one call was recorded as a ‘miscellaneous’ reason. A spokesman for McDonald’s said: “The safety and security of our staff and customers is of the utmost importance to us. “We take a zero tolerance approach when it comes to crime and antisocial behaviour in and around our restaurants. “We work very closely with the local police in Coventry, including regular catch ups and reporting, taking part in workshops for our business managers and having a designated local neighbourhood police officer for each individual restaurant in the city.” A spokesman for KFC said: “We always try to be a good neighbour and work closely with our local communities, including the police where necessary. “The FOI states that these incidents may not have occurred inside our restaurants - they may have just been referenced as the nearest identifiable landmark.”
We take a zero tolerance approach when it comes to crime and antisocial behaviour in and around our restaurants McDonald’s spokesman