CITY businesses are in agreement with an open letter which criticises the council and police for escalating violence, anti-social behaviour and street begging.

The letter, published by Newport Business Improvement District, comes in the wake of a number of high profile incidents in the city centre during the last month.

It was sent to the Chief Constable of Gwent Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, the chief executive of Newport City Council, the leader of the council and the editor of the South Wales Argus.

Newport BID are members of the Safer City Centre Partnership, which meets to discuss issues around safety in the city centre and includes representatives from both Gwent Police and the council. They also represent 400 businesses in the city centre.

In response to BID’s letter Inspector John Davies, who is responsible for policing in the city centre, said he was aware of the issues.

“An increase in police resources in the city centre to combat these issues is already in place,” he said.

“However, some of these issues are complex and that is the reason for the Safer City Centre partnership targeting them from a multiagency standpoint.”

Leader of the council, Deborah Wilcox, was asked for her response to the letter.

A council spokesman said they were also aware of the issues, and expressed disappointment at BID’s response.

“The points highlighted in its open letter were discussed at this month’s meeting of the Safer City Centre partnership,” said the spokesman.

“A review of the city centre Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) which looks at ways to tackle aggressive begging and anti-social behaviour in the city centre is on the agenda of the next full council in July.”

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Jeff Cuthbert, added: “I do acknowledge receipt of the letter from Newport BID and I would like to reassure the people of Newport that this is a matter we take very seriously.”

Some city centre businesses also pointed to the number of homeless people on the streets of the city as a source of tension that is driving down business.

Enzo Nigro, manager the Potters bar on Upper Dock Street, says if the problems aren’t dealt with then Newport will become a no-go area.

“There are so many kids riding around on their bikes in huge gangs; it just all seems out of control at the moment,” he said.

“There are so many positive things about Newport but it’s going to be spoiled by these gang culture kids.

“Paired with the beggars and homeless people in the city centre, it can be quite a scary place.

“It will take someone getting badly hurt or killed for anything to be done about it.”

The owner of Hi Coffee, whose newest branch is located next to Newport Bus Station in Friars Walk, claims losses of up to 30 per cent a day could be laid at the feet of misbehaving teenagers who vandalise the branch, intimidate customers and steal stock.

The coffee chain says during the Easter holidays they were forced to close the branch earlier than they usually would.

Owner Jonathan Hill is now worried the problem will get worse in the summer holidays.

Mr Hill said: “The problems we are facing here happen during our peak times, which is around 2pm-6pm.

“This is a new branch offering a modern option in a new transport hub for a growing city. This shouldn’t be happening.”

Some city centre shop workers the Argus spoke to were too afraid to identify themselves or the names of their businesses for fear of becoming targets .Some city centre shop workers the Argus spoke to are too afraid to identify themselves, and sometimes the names of their businesses, for fear of becoming targets.

One woman, who works in Supernews news agents on High Street, said anti-social behaviour and violence had definitely worsened in the last three months.

“It’s just the gangs of kids going around on their bikes in the streets bringing trouble,” she said.

“The only police presence we have seen on this street is after the eight muggings last week.”

One shop on Skinner Street agreed to speak to the Argus about the issues but asked that employee names and the name of the shop was kept anonymous.

“The problem is, if our name appears in the paper they wouldn’t think twice about throwing something through our window.

“Saturday during the day is a huge issue,” said the shop owner. “Everyone is fed up with the begging too. We’ve had two customers in here today complaining about it. I don’t know what the answer is there, and I do feel sorry for them but sometimes I think giving them money just doesn’t help the situation.You can go a whole week and only see one PCSO walking around. It’s simple really, they should have more officers on the streets.”

Both Friars Walk shopping centre and Newport Transport, who pay a fee to the council to operate from the bus station, have said they are also aware of the issues, and are working with the council and police to try to find an answer.

But is Newport alone is experiencing these problems?

Bob Bevan manages Newport’s Businesses Against Crime Partnership, a membership organisation which brings city centre businesses together to organise against crime and anti-social behaviour, in partnership with Gwent Police and Newport BID.

“Essentially, you will always get problems in the city centre with anti-social behaviour whether that’s by young people or adults,” he said. “The problem with young people is who is diverting them from trouble. There’s prevention, intervention and enforcement. But you need diverting actions in place to really make the problem go away.”

But while the problems described may not be confined to Newport, Commuters at the busy bus station beneath Friars Walk say drug taking, violence and gangs of teenagers make travelling an uncomfortable experience.

Mary Murray, 62, uses the bus station in the city centre every day. She said: the problems there have been getting worse over the last few weeks. “You’ve got swearing, drinking, smoking drugs, lots of fighting and kids riding their bikes all over the place.”