"It’s like Halloween every day of the week". That’s how a business owner has described St James’s Street in Brighton, which is plagued by antisocial behaviour, drug dealing and shoplifting. Those living and working in the street say the problems have been going on for so long they have been “normalised” with the sound of shouting and fighting becoming a regular soundtrack to the “vibrant” street.
One person told The Argus the situation feels "out of control". Businesses and residents say something must be to done to put an end to scourge of crime . Shop workers have been attacked and visitors are being frightened off.
But they do not just want more policing and sanctions, or for perpetrators simply to be moved on. They want to see the root causes of such behaviour addressed and perpetrators, many of who are homeless and have addiction problems, supported to get back on their feet. Chris Ward, MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, said he has been inundated with concerns from constituents about the issues facing the street.
He said many shop workers have given up reporting crimes due to the lack of response or repeat offenders getting “inadequate” sanctions. He has urged Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne to scrutinise the current deployment of police resources and their effectiveness to deal with the behaviour. He has also called for a collaborative approach to tackle the underlying causes.
Business partners Craig Harwood, 32, and Paul Thorn.