UK town terrorised by balaclava thugs leaving traders scared to go to work
Balaclava-clad yobs have been taking over a town centre leaving residents intimidated and out of pocket.
Town centre traders in Hyde, Greater Manchester, say their businesses have taken a hit because of hoards of cowards terrorising the public. The frightening thugs have led to a drop in footfall in the market town, as one resident said authorities "don't give a f***" about the problem.
The previously bustling and friendly market has been reduced to a quiet and austere place, according to traders. One stallholder told how he has even taken to closing early and has halved his working days, saying his previous six days' work was no longer "worth it".
Umair Hussain is now one of just a handful of traders left with stalls at Hyde outdoor market, Manchester Evening News reports, having sold in the square for 15 years. He told the title the market used to be a busy place, but now "it's not worth it anymore" saying, "you get too much hassle".
Hyde Market Square workers say they've been plagued by a recent spate of anti-social behaviour (MEN Media)“No one gives a f*** around here,” he said, claiming some of the youths had also targeted his stall hurling abuse and stealing his stock, even resorting to throwing chairs at one point. “I told police and all they did was give me a reference number.”
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“Nobody turned up. You have to do something yourself but, if you say something, it’s going to come back on you.” Mr Hussain said he's also reported the matter to local authority Tameside Council, but was reportedly told it wasn't for them to deal with.
Mr Hussain told of the issue off the back of horrifying footage last weekend which showed bikers in balaclavas terrorising the market, brandishing a baseball bat and bolt cutters before appearing to attack a man who stood up to them. Officers issued a dispersal order to get rid of the yobs, with police claiming they've since stepped up patrols.
Greater Manchester Police's most senior figurehead, Chief Constable Stephen Watson, has even called on local officers to nip the issue "in the bud" as anti-social troublemakers cause misery. While defending his officers' "quick" response to the fracas, he agreed in a recent interview on BBC Radio Manchester that neighbourhood teams needed to prioritise "getting a grip" of the problem.
The square has seen a drop in footfall (image shows general view) (MEN Media)The most recent incident, however, was just one of many episodes plaguing the town centre, Mr Hussain said. The ongoing issue has in turn left him terrified of doing his job. “I have regular customers who don’t come anymore," he explained. “It puts people off coming to the market.”
Fellow trader Beryl Clark said police were "trying to do their best" to combat the problem. She said: "The council have got rid of all the youth clubs. There's nothing for kids to do other than get into trouble.
"They ride down the middle of the stall while we're trading. If I say 'please don't do that', they usually listen. If you treat them with a bit of respect, they stop."
Recent figures uncovered by The Mirror found that around 2,000 anti-social behaviour-related calls a day went without a police response, as both Labour and the Lib Dems have called on the Government to crack down on the issue. The figures, obtained by the Freedom of Information Act, showed around 80% of calls in some force areas go unanswered.
Stall holder Beryl Clark (MEN Media)Waqas Ali, who runs ioi Gadgets a stone's throw from the market, said his business had also been targeted by thugs after they broke into the shop two months ago, stealing expensive stock. "It makes me scared to work here," he explained.
"I thought it was a busy area but the town is going down. I spent a lot of money on this shop but I'm trying to sell it for a loss because I want to get out."
A Tameside Council spokesperson said: “We’re helping Greater Manchester Police with their ongoing investigation into an incident at Hyde Market. The force put in place a Section 60 dispersal order and increased patrols in the area over the weekend.
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“We work hard to support stallholders with any issues and are always happy to discuss any concerns with them.”
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