A Nottingham trader said crime is "destroying" his business as officers crack down on shoplifting and burglaries. Officers are targeting the Clifton area after an increase in burglary and shoplifting offences at the end of last year.
Recent data also reveals that Clifton has recorded the highest number of crime reports when compared to the other areas in the city. Latest available figures, compiled by police.uk, show there were 281 reports of crime in Clifton for the month of January alone.
The area recorded 102 reports of violence and sexual offences, and 57 reports of shoplifting. Gibi Varghese, who works at a family-run business in the town centre, has told of his experience in the area.
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When Nottinghamshire Live visited his shop, he warned one of his customers that there is CCTV in operation. "I have got footage of him stealing from the shop", Mr Varghese said.
"We are fed up with it so I took it in my own hands. I am just warning them and hoping they will stop.
"It is destroying my business. Businesses are really struggling, especially with the cost of living crisis.
"I paid £7,500 in electricity bills for three months. We have got salaries to pay - we are really struggling and shoplifting is a real issue."
Mia Smith, 22, who works in a shop in the town centre, added: "I think the figures about violence and sexual offences are worrying. I lived in Clifton all my life so that makes me a bit uncomfortable.
"I never walk with headphones on, it has become a normality. There are some funny alleways in Clifton.
"And shoplifting is a problem here - so I am not surprised. Generally, I find that unless you cause the problem, you do not really have a problem here."
Eric Palmer, who runs Dawns Cards on Southchurch Drive, added: "I do not think that Clifton is any different than anywhere else. I have been trading in the area for the last 12 years.
"I have never had any concerns or issues. I feel safe here."
Inspector Karl Thomas, district commander for Nottingham South, said the force has pumped extra resources into the Clifton area to tackle an increase in burglary and shoplifting offences at the end of last year. "By targeting resources in the area we have seen a drastic reduction in burglaries over the past month,” he said.
“High-visibility patrols, awareness campaigns and a number of key of arrests are behind this success. Shoplifting is another key priority for us and we will be focusing particularly on this issue in coming weeks.
“Antisocial behaviour, drug offences and begging can also have a detrimental effect on a neighbourhood and can stop people visiting and spending their money there. So these issues are also being targeted in a coordinated way by our neighbourhood and Operation Reacher teams.”
Over the past three weeks, police teams in Clifton have made seven arrests, carried out eight stop and searches and raided five premises. Results of note in Clifton include a stop and search which resulted in a man being charged after he was found in possession of a lock knife.
Police teams also executed a warrant at a house, seized and destroyed 335 cannabis plants and have charged and remanded a suspect. Insp Thomas said: “We want Clifton to be the best it can be as a place to live and work. Police teams in the community work hard every day to ensure that continues to be the case.”
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