'Fights, drugs and phone box toilet trips hitting high street business'

Yahoo

07-03-2025

FIGHTS, drug use and phone box toilet trips are blighting Worcester high street and impacting business.
That is according to shop owners and staff working on the high street who spoke out after a fight broke out near their stores on Wednesday (March 5).
Police were called to the fight at the Cross around 2.55pm and were able to diffuse the situation, however, those working nearby fear antisocial behaviour is becoming more common and is impacting business.
An eyewitness said the men involved were throwing beer cans, and fists and screaming at each other.
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Masaud Ahmad, from iCrack, said he has seen a lot of arguments and fights which he feels negatively impacts businesses as it puts people off coming into that area.
He said: "As well as fights and arguments, there have been people playing loud music right outside this shop, which disturbs the whole city centre.
"This has gotten worse in the past few months, it's not good for business.
"It's something we would like to be calmed down."
Kyle Emery, who works in a shop nearby, saw the fight on Wednesday.
He said: "This was the first physical fight in a few weeks, there was another argument where there was arguing and swearing and the police turned up- it stopped this part of town with everyone trying to watch or trying to avoid it.
"It could become a big problem as this is at the start of the main walkthrough from the station and if shoppers see a load of people kicking off it could put them off walking through the city centre, so it could have a long-term negative impact.
"Drug use is also a problem, people are taking drugs in the phone box nearby and using it as a toilet, it is right in the eye line of these shops and is a real negative sight to see."
Mohammed Imran, from Phone Worcester, on the High Street, said although he didn't see Wednesday's fight, he had seen several verbal altercations within a week, adding it wasn't pleasant to see in the city centre.
Shops from other areas of the city centre, including Broad Street, Foregate Street and the Hopmarket, said they had no such issues with antisocial behaviour and feel Worcester BID and West Mercia Police did a good job of defusing any situations.
A West Mercia Police spokesman said: "The Worcester city centre team ensures officers are visible, accessible, and focused on responding to issues that impact our city.
"The dedicated teams help prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour and can act quickly."
Inspector Tanya Beckett said: 'West Mercia Police understands the concern that anti-social behaviour (ASB) brings to our city and alongside partner agencies we are committed to tackle this issue.
'We are part of the Multi-Agency Tasking Group, which is a partnership of twenty agencies that meet monthly and set objectives to effectively reduce ASB in our community.
'We are aware of specific issues at the phone box on the High Street and communication with the proprietors has been made for them to consider it being removed.
'Our team regularly patrol the High Street and will continue to do so with local concerns about poor and anti-social behaviour in mind. I want to reassure the community that our officers will deal robustly with any anti-social behaviour they encounter'.
Worcester BID, which aims to improving the trading conditions for city businesses which pay a levy, was unavailable for comment.