MORE Newport businesses suffering from crime, including racial abuse, have come forward saying they believe police should do more to help them.

It comes after the Argus reported the frustration of a businessman who had £7,000 worth of scratch cards and cigarettes stolen, and said he felt Gwent Police weren’t doing enough to protect small businesses.

Gwent Police say they are committed to supporting businesses and take all incidents of retail crime seriously.

But Ash Hassan, the Duffryn Post Office manager, said that a few weeks ago a customer racially abused and spat on his daughter, who was working behind the till, after she asked him for ID.

Mr Hassan said the police didn’t call until five hours after the incident was reported, and didn’t come to the store until four days later.

Mr Hassan said: “The police should look after small businesses.

“We need their backing, they can’t keep ignoring us.”

Meanwhile, Farzand Ali, who has run the Londis in Alway Shopping Centre for 36 years, said he has problems with anti-social behaviour and suffers from “systematic” shoplifting.

“It’s having a psychological effect on me, I’m thinking of wrapping up,” he said.

Mr Ali also said small businesses feel they are the back of the queue with police.

"We reported a crime but were put on hold for 45 minutes," he added. "Then they did not come for four days.

“Small businesses in Alway are thinking of forming an association to put pressure on the council and the police.

"We don’t know who to turn to anymore."

Mr Ghulam Mustafa, manager of Malpas Convenience Store, in Malpas Road, said his shop had suffered from several incidents in recent months, including someone punching its glass door.

Mr Mustafa, who has run the store for 16 years, said: “We expect more from the police, they should turn up when you call them.”

Gwent Police said it had investigated all the incidents. The racial abuse incident in Duffryn Post Office is under investigation, while the other two incidents are said to have been resolved.

Newport Insp Mark Thomas said: “Gwent Police takes all incidents of retail crime seriously as we realise the impact it has on local businesses.

“We will continue to work closely with the business sector to ensure Newport is a safe and a welcoming city for residents and visitors at all times.

“We are committed to supporting businesses and happy to offer advice to business on crime prevention measures.”

Insp Thomas added that there has been no "noticeable" change in the number of burglaries of city centre businesses and that there has been a 45 per cent reduction in anti-social behaviour since April this year, compared to the previous six months.

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FULL STATEMENT OF GWENT POLICE:

Newport Inspector Mark Thomas said: "I am the new geographical inspector for Stow Hill having recently taken over from my predecessor Inspector Kevin Warren who has now retired.

"I am pleased to be returning to the Newport area where I started as a PC 11 years ago working as both a response officer and ward officer.

"Having spent all my service in neighbourhood policing I am very much focused on and enjoy partnership working and the benefits this brings to the community.

"I would like to thank my predecessor Inspector Warren for leaving the ward in such a strong position for me to take over and recognise they will be big shoes to fill.

"In relation to the issues raised over the scratch card robbery on Bridge Street in Newport. I have invited Mr Iqbal to meet with me to discuss his concerns and I am hopeful that we will be able to work with him to resolve this matter. We record and investigate all reports of retail theft and where presented with sufficient evidence will arrest anyone suspected of a crime.

"Gwent Police takes all incidents of retail crime seriously as we realise the impact it has on local businesses.

"This is clear from the outcomes we have had from some of the incidents mentioned where by the offender from Londis stores where £7.83 worth of food items were stolen was put before the court and received a 12 month conditional discharge with £85 court costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

"The offender from the Malpas Convenience Store incident was dealt with by way of a Community Resolution and the offender compensated the shopkeeper for the damage.

"The other incident mentioned is still under investigation.

"During the past three months there have been some real success stories within the Stow Hill ward and the city centre.

"We have seen some positive results in relation to the levels of anti-social behaviour that have been reported to us.

"We will continue to work closely with partners in the local authority and the business sector to ensure Newport is a safe and a welcoming city for residents and visitors at all times.

"Over the past three years there has been no noticeable change in the number of burglaries to business premises in the city centre and we have seen a 45 per cent reduction in ASB since April this year compared to the previous six months.

"This is due to the increased presence of police officers, community support officers, community safety wardens and Friars Walk security officers who are daily patrolling the city centre.

"We have seen an increase in shoplifting since the opening of Friars Walk and this was expected due to the increased footfall in the city and the improved offer from high end stores.

"However, although shoplifting has increased so has the number of offenders who have been arrested and charged with theft.

"Newport Now have funded an additional 20 Storenet radios that will allow traders to pass information between themselves, CCTV and police to alert each other of anyone acting suspicious in their stores.

"These additional radios will mean that anyone shoplifting in Newport runs an even greater risk of getting caught and prosecuted.

"We also have a Caught on Camera section on our internet site where we publish CCTV images of people we would like to speak to in connection with offences and often these relate to business crime. That said, there are often occasions when businesses present us with CCTV of such a poor quality that offenders cannot be identified. I would ask retailers to regularly review the quality of the CCTV systems to ensure they are fit for purpose.

"We are committed to supporting businesses to ensure we have a vibrant and successful city and are happy to offer advice to business on crime prevention measures."