Shoppers back new initiative to cut crime

WE spoke to shoppers about anti-social behaviour and crime in the town centre.

Many of them said anti-social behaviour was a problem or that they avoided Stockport town centre altogether in the evenings.

Here is what some people had to say about Totally Stockport’s private security initiative...

Beryl Hyde, 79, above right, who lives near Stockport town centre, said: “You don’t see the police now. “Businesses and private firms shouldn’t have to pay for security guards. The council should pay for it.

“Saying that, I don’t think anti-social behaviour is that bad in the town. You don’t see it that often.

“But I still don’t think businesses should have to pay for it. They never used to.”

Grace Kozij, 18, pictured below, from Stockport, said: “Sometimes I don’t feel safe in parts of Stockport.

“You do get a lot of young people hanging around at the bus station. I wouldn’t go down there at night.

“Anything to make those parts of the town centre feel safer is a good thing.”

Annie Hustler, 76, above, from Woodley, said: “I think crime varies depending on what’s going on. Sometimes people have had a lot to drink. But when I come into the town centre I don’t see too much because I only come down in the daytime.

“I think it’s good something is being done to make the town centre more safe, but I also think we pay our taxes for [ police] patrols.

“It all goes back to government in some form or another and they just do less and less.

“I think the scheme will benefit the town centre because some people don’t even want to come into it.” Richard Everett, 82, pictured above, from Bredbury, said: “I do think you have to be on your guard in the town centre.

“There is a lot of anti-social behaviour in the evenings and the police have no power to do anything about it. Private security guards are a good idea if they make the area more safe.

“We need more police on the beat. I’ve not seen a police officer around here for more than two years.”