Officers challenged illegal street traders more than 400 times in 12 weeks, issued over 50 £150 fines and seized two hot dog carts in Kensington and Chelsea.

Council officers challenged illegal street traders more than 400 times during a 12-week summer crackdown in Kensington and Chelsea, issued more than 50 fines of £150 and confiscated two hot dog carts, the council has said. (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, 21 October 2026)

The operation ran from 17 July to early October, with two additional officers patrolling seven days a week, 11am to 7pm. Between them they put in 1,260 hours of patrols, working alongside the council’s own Street Enforcement Team. The extra officers came from Kingdom Services Group.

These are the results of the seven-day patrols we reported on in August, when the council had issued 12 fixed penalty notices in the first week.

Where officers worked

The council says the patrols targeted places where illegal trading has been a persistent problem:

  • Exhibition Road
  • Brompton Road
  • Hans Crescent
  • Sloane Square
  • the King’s Road

What the 400 challenges involved

Officers spoke to sellers, stopped unauthorised trading and confiscated equipment. Alongside the 50-plus fines already issued, the council says officers recorded more than 50 occasions where traders refused to engage with them, and further fines are being prepared on the back of those.

A hot dog cart with sausages and onions on its hotplate, standing on a paved street
The hotplate of one of the two seized hot dog carts. Photo: supplied by Kensington and Chelsea Council

What the council and the business partnerships say

Cllr Johnny Thalassites, the council’s Lead Member for Enforcement, said:

“Our streets are not a free-for-all, and the rules are not optional. Whether it’s outside our world-famous museums or along the King’s Road, nobody has the right to set up an illegal trading operation and expect us to turn a blind eye.

“We’ve had officers out seven days a week, challenging illegal traders more than 400 times, handing out fines and seizing hot dog carts, so if you think you can flout the rules and carry on trading, think again.

“Legitimate businesses pay for their licences, follow the rules and work hard to make Kensington and Chelsea such a fantastic place to visit. It’s not fair for illegal traders to undercut them, or for residents and visitors to be left dealing with the noise, litter and disruption. We’ll continue to stand up for those who play by the rules.”

The Knightsbridge Partnership and the King’s Road Partnership, the business groups for those two districts, gathered intelligence and identified hotspots for the patrols. Rebecca Handley, their Director of Place and Environment, said:

“The Knightsbridge and King’s Road Partnerships have been proud to work alongside the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to tackle illegal street trading, proactively gathering intelligence, identifying hotspots and supporting targeted enforcement.

“We have been greatly encouraged by the Council’s determination and commitment to addressing this issue and reducing its impact on the local environment and business community.

“This collaborative approach is vital to protecting the character of Knightsbridge and the King’s Road, maintaining a welcoming and well-managed public realm, and ensuring a fair and positive trading environment for businesses that operate legally and contribute to the vitality of our district.”

Why the council acts

The council’s case is the same as it was in August: illegal trading causes noise and air pollution, leaves litter, blocks pavements and roads, raises food safety concerns and undercuts businesses that pay for a street trading licence and keep to its conditions.

What it means for you

If you buy food from a cart or van on the street in the borough, a licence is what shows the trader has been checked. An unlicensed seller has not been.

If you run a shop or a licensed pitch on one of the streets above, the council and the business partnerships both frame the crackdown as protecting you from being undercut.

Two things the council has not said: whether the additional patrols continue now that the 12 weeks are over, and how many of the 50-plus fines have been paid.

Other enforcement this year: noise camera fines on the borough’s roads and the sniffer dog sweep for illicit tobacco.

Sources