On 12 December 2024, Bhavik Patel the owner of The Vape Shop, 1 Selsdon Road, South Croydon was served with a Community Protection Notice following complaints from the public, local councillors and the police regarding the obstruction and use of the highway outside of the shop.
The Notice prohibited, amongst other matters, the leaving of boxes and pallets on the pavement, the carrying out of work activity on the pavement and the obstruction of the highway.
Mr. Patel breached this Notice on a number of occasions between the 17 December 2024 and the 11 February 2025 without any reasonable excuse and failed to cooperate with the Council. The Council issued criminal proceedings against Mr Patel and a trial was listed for February 2026.
On 27 February 2026 Mr Patel accepted that he was guilty of the breach and, in addition to paying £8000 towards the Council’s legal costs, received a caution for the offence (essentially a formal written acceptance of guilt); thereby saving the Council the further costs of pursuing the matter to trial. The caution is recorded against Mr Patel and may be referred to should he commit other offences.
“We are taking a zero-tolerance approach to antisocial behaviour in Croydon – and that includes businesses that repeatedly ignore warnings and obstruct the pavement, making life harder for residents.
“In this case, the business owner has accepted wrongdoing and will now pay costs. Residents in South Croydon were right to raise concerns, and we have acted on their complaints – including repeated reports of deliveries blocking the pavement and leaving pedestrians, particularly those with mobility issues, with nowhere to walk.
“This action shows we are standing up for residents and taking firm action when and where it is needed, as we restore pride in Croydon.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
