BETTING SHOPS IN DEPRIVED INNER-CITY LONDON BOROUGHS

That this House condemns the proliferation of betting shops in inner city London boroughs; notes that deprived boroughs such as Hackney, Islington, Haringey and Tottenham have disproportionately high numbers of such establishments; further notes that the gambling industry is targeting these deprived areas of high unemployment; is concerned that such establishments are responsible for increases in crime and anti-social behaviour in surrounding areas; and believes more needs to be done to give local councils the power to refuse licensing applications by means of a tightening of the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005.