THE head of an Oxford food delivery company who claimed licensing conditions were an ‘injustice’ which would ‘cripple’ his company and favour big business will have to obey them anyway.

Marlon Naidoo, who runs Oxford-based OrderIn, was told his food delivery service would need to accept a lengthy list of rules suggested by police to sell alcohol, even though he claimed other delivery giants – most notably Deliveroo – do not need to abide by such rules.

In one case, he said, he was worried delivery drivers might be mistaken for potential burglars if they were to do what the police had asked.

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He said: ‘[Deliveroo has] got a similar business model to us. They are not subject to a change in conditions, licensing, training. I don’t see why we, as a smaller company, should be subject to those changes.

“For me it seems as if there’s one rule for them and another for the rest of us.”

Oxford Mail:

OrderIn which works with big chains like McDonald's, Burger King and Subway, as well as local restaurants like Aziz in Headington, runs from a site just off the Oxford Ring Road, in Peterley Road.

Mr Naidoo was told at a city council licensing committee at Oxford Town Hall on Monday that his business was fundamentally different from Deliveroo and other similar firms.

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While his company is responsible for the delivery of food, other drink and alcohol, Deliveroo works as a third party for restaurants or takeaways. That means restaurants or takeaways require a licence to sell alcohol but not the company.

Mr Naidoo said he objected to ‘most’ of the 15 duties Thames Valley Police suggested and that they should not have been imposed.

He said: “I don’t think any of the conditions in the licence are beneficial to me.”

He added: “One of the conditions that was attached to the licence was that we would need to look out for any suspicious activity for people. On its own, it’s acceptable. I don’t have a problem looking after kids because I’ve got three of my own.

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“The problem that I have is peering over someone’s shoulder when you’re delivering something to them. That on its own looks a bit creepy and suspicious. They’re going to think you’re coming into their house, that you’re coming later to break into their house.”

He added: “This would cripple me. I’d rather not set up the business than have these conditions attached to it and struggle with these conditions than upset all my customers.

“I want to make my voice heard to make sure that other people are not being discriminated against. The big companies can get away with whatever they want; we can’t do whatever we like.”

Amongst the conditions, OrderIn staff will need to be over 18 and will need to wear a high-vis yellow fluorescent jacket to show they are delivering goods.