Shops and bars in the West End of London have clubbed together to consider buying extra police time in an effort to appease residents' concerns about late-night disorder. If the scheme proceeds the cash raised will help fund extra officers to work at busy times.

Robert Cohen, managing director of Chorion, which operates the Langley restaurant in London's Covent Garden says as far as the Langley restaurant is concerned there is no history of disorder or regular call outs, but says the scheme has been suggested to concerned residents: 'This is an olive branch to the community.'

Kit Malthouse, deputy leader of Westminster Council says the inaugural scheme was simply born out of exasperation: 'In the absence of adequate policing businesses are faced with no choice. Currently the streets of London are not safe enough.'

But Malthouse is concerned that the move may encourage a situation where if companies can't pay, they can't have the policing they need.