Tulse Hill station must become a no drinking zone to combat violent drunks and drug addicts blighting the area, businesses and community figures have warned.

The intimidating drunks and beggars - who commune at a kiosk outside the station - regularly steal from local shops and aggressively beg from commuters, but despite efforts to move them on they continue to return.

The community expected a firm clamp down by the authorities when a man associated with the group was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the attempted murder of Stephen Clarke outside the Railway pub next to the kiosk.

Stephen, the father of Railway landlord Simon Clarke, was stabbed dozens of times when he tried to get the drunks to move on after they threw a brick through the pub window.

But critics say failures by Lambeth’s Drug and Alcohol Action team to find a long term solution to the problem means the area is still suffering.

Residents reacted angrily last week by spraying the kiosk with the words: “Scum drink here.”

Chair of Lambeth Crime Prevention Panel, Richard Moore, said: “They are supposed to have the ability to solve these problems in the long term, but it has been going on for years and it hasn’t stopped yet. Whatever they are doing has not been effective.”

Simon Clarke said: “I think they should make it a no drinking zone, plain and simple. This has gone on for too long.”

Tram Tin, owner of Trans Hold Bar in Station Rise, said: “They are really intimidating. They come into my shop and beg and have stolen from me before.

“They scare people - they can’t be good for business or the area.”

Lambeth Conservative leader John Whelan joined calls for the no drinking zone - and said he would be asking for cross-party support for the idea at the next council meeting on October 8.

He said: “A dry zone would give the police more power to stop the problem and show these people they are not welcome.”

A Lambeth Council spokeswoman said: "Both the local Safer Neighbourhood Teams and the British Transport Police are aware of concerns over antisocial behaviour around Tulse Hill Station and are already working together to address the issue.

“Lambeth Drug and Alcohol Team works with partners including the PCT to fund a number of services for street drinkers and to help them get their lives back on track, including outreach teams, treatment centres and residential rehabilitation."

• What do you think? Should a dry zone be introduced? Let us know in the comments section below.