South Coast shop workers tell us they're fearful of antisocial behaviour
It's after a government crackdown was announced yesterday
A South Coast shopworker's telling us they live in fear of antisocial behaviour.
It's after the government announced yesterday they'd be introducing a boost to neighbourhood police and higher levels of punishments for shoplifters.
A shopkeeper, who's voice we've changed and identity we're keeping anonymous, is telling us about their own experience.
They said: "It impacts me very badly because every time I hear a loud noise whilst I’m at work now, I get nervous and scared.
"I have this fear because the power they show us, that they are above the law.
"We feel like we have tied hands and they can do whatever they want and we’re so afraid.
"I’m more scared because if they come back, they can do even worse things, and it’s a big fear for us."
It's after Sir Keir Starmer said he's calling time on the shop theft "free-for-all" as he set out efforts to crack down on retail crime.
The Government has put an extra 3,000 neighbourhood police officers on the streets and scrapped the effective immunity for thieves stealing goods worth less than £200.
A standalone offence for assaulting a retail worker is set to be introduced in the Crime and Policing Bill going through Parliament.
But the two Houses of Parliament are currently in a tussle over the final draft of the Bill as the end of the parliamentary session nears.
The shopworker told us they'd like to see more done around police patrols and to see more cameras being installed.
But they said they were in support of the crackdown and hope that it'll help to make a difference.