AN EAST End caf� owner who was fined for allowing his customers to smoke shisha is hoping to get the go-ahead today to sell booze and play music into the night. Mohammed Abdul Kashim has applied to Tower Hamlets council for permission to sell alcohol to

AN EAST End caf� owner who was fined for allowing his customers to smoke shisha is hoping to get the go-ahead today to sell booze and play music into the night.

Mohammed Abdul Kashim has applied to Tower Hamlets council for permission to sell alcohol to his customers from 4pm throughout the week at Caf� Fresh in Commercial Road, Whitechapel.

He is also hoping to get the green light to host a one-man jazz band until 10pm and to play CDs until 10.45pm.

The application is being discussed by the council's Licensing Sub Committee at 2pm today at the Town Hall.

But Mr Kashim is facing objections from the Metropolitan Police after he was caught breaking the smoking ban and forced to pay a fine for allowing customers to smoke shisha pipes in the basement of the caf�.

Officers also claim that the smoking of the flavoured tobacco has triggered an increase in anti-social behaviour around the area with teenagers seen coming out of the caf�, drinking booze, smoking cannabis and snorting cocaine on street corners.

But Mr Kashim insists he will monitor any anti-social behaviour and "criminal activities", ensure all staff are trained and understand the licensing objectives and will not allow in more than 20 customers at a time.