Business 'thinking of leaving' St Helens due to constant anti-social behaviour

Ian Emery, owner of Geek Retreat on Bridge Street, said that around 20 youths carry out careless behaviour outside of his shop on an almost daily basis.

This ranges from being generally loud and boisterous to more serious examples of abusing customers and vandalising the shop window.

Additionally, Ian says that there have been multiple instances of assault and threats of assault to the customers and staff at Geek Retreat, including to Ian's son.

Geek Retreat's windows have been smashed by groups of youths

Opening in St Helens in October 2021, Ian describes the cafe and gaming store as an "inclusive safe environment" for people to meet, play and make friends.

However, the hordes of youths that descend on the town centre at night is disrupting this safe environment, terrorising gamers and affecting the business' ability to make a profit.

With "no police presence" to deter this kind of behaviour, Ian said he feels he is being "pushed out of the area" and is weighing up his options to take the franchise somewhere else.

Ian says there is not enough police presence to deter this behaviour from reoccuring

Ian said: "Usually, business picks up after around 6pm once people have finished work but I can't get the customers in anymore - they don't feel safe walking up Bridge Street.

"This keeps on going on and with no police presence [to deter it], I'm seriously thinking about leaving."

Ian explained that while he has had frequent visits from community police officers at his store, without an increased town centre presence, this is not adequate to meet the scale of the problem.

Confirming that the problem is also affecting a number of town centre businesses, he added: "If this carries on, there is no point in me staying in St Helens.

"Without addressing the problem, there seems no imperative to grow the area."

Geek Retreat opened on Bridge Street in October 2021

Addressing Ian's concerns, a spokesperson for St Helens Borough Council said:

"We are keen to tackle any instances of anti-social behaviour in our town centres as quickly and directly as possible and we are working closely with local partners, including the Police, on a number of joint initiatives to achieve this.

"Anti-social behaviour in the town centre, especially that involves damage to property, is totally unacceptable and we will work closely with our partners to take swift action when it happens.

"A number of measures have been implemented to address other anti-social behaviour concerns raised within the town centre, including dispersal orders, Stay Safe operations and direct work with young people and their families.

"Partners, including businesses, will continue to work together to put in place proactive measures to ensure our town centres are safe and welcoming places for all. "