Neighbours are opposing an amusement arcade's application to split the shop in two amid fears it will attract further crime.
The owners of Agora Amusements at 49 The Broadway, Ealing, have applied to divide the shop in half, which would allow them to 'dodge' existing gaming laws and cram in more machines.
And after a number of robberies, thefts and damage caused by customers, the Licensing Sergeant for Ealing Borough Police is concerned the mostly female staff will be exposed to further danger.
In a report to go before a licensing sub-committee next week, Nigel Charlton wrote: "Agora operate a policy of lone female workers at their premises, most of these workers are from Eastern Europe and speak little or no English.
"They work in premises that have no secure area, no panic alarms and insufficient, if any CCTV.
"Agora premises have been the subject of robberies and lone members of staff have been powerless as they watched males break open machines and were too scared to call police.
"The planned changes in the premises doesn't show a solid wall; it appears to be a sliding door and this temporary structure is not within the spirit of the act."
Ealing Civic Society and Central Ealing Residents'Association are also objecting to the plans, which could see twice the number of machines installed in the same area.
Julian Edmonds, of CERA, wrote: "The area is subject to high levels of violent crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.
"It is frequented by large numbers of unsupervised children and other young people and the number of smoking customers congregating out-side the existing premises already cause nuisance.
"CERA believes any multiplication of gaming machines would only serve to multiply the problems identified."
If approved, the adult gaming centre would be allowed to include an unlimited number of £5 and £35 cash prize machines and a maximum of eight £500 prize machines.
Matthew Deith, director of Agora Amusements declined to comment. The licensing sub-committee will sit on Monday in committee room 3, Town Hall, at 10am.
