Shop boss says violent yobs are making bus station ‘scary’ place to be
FOLLOWING TWO ATTACKS LAST MONTH, THE EXAMINER WENT TO THE TRANSPORT HUB TO ASK PASSENGERS AND STAFF HOW SAFE THEY FELT
SHOP manager Mudassar Anwar says Huddersfield Bus Station sometimes feels like a ‘scary’ and ‘frightening’ place to be.
Mudassar, who manages a business in the bus station, says antisocial behaviour can be a problem and, at times, the atmosphere feels ‘chaotic’ during busy periods. He has seen people fighting and all kinds of behaviour, from begging to drunkenness.
He claims that teenagers are responsible for the majority of the anti-social behaviour, with older people in their 20s and 30s involved in ‘fighting each other.’
Mudassar says the bus station would benefit from an increased police presence. He believes the bus station security guards don’t have the power to do much when disorder erupts.
Asked about the atmosphere in the bus station, he said: “Sometimes it can get scary and frightening. It is mostly anti-social behaviour. I do see police officers when something is going on.”
Victor Lucas, 64, from Newsome, Huddersfield, was standing outside the bus station when The Examiner caught up with him. He praised staff at the bus station, saying: “Security staff do a brilliant job.”
He believes younger people have been causing trouble at the bus station and says security should be stepped up to keep people safe.
Victor says he’s seen police officers at the bus station in the past. “It was because people were fighting.”
He also claimed he had previously seen a “bunch of lads picking on women” which prompted a police response.
One woman, 83, having a cuppa at the bus station but who did not want to give her name, said: “I don’t feel safe around town. I think they – the younger ones – pick on the elderly. A friend of mine in her 70s was attacked in town over 12 months ago.
“They sneaked up the back of her, pushed her over, and pinched her handbag. It happened on the main street, New Street.”
Two 18-year-old students, who did not want to be named, were sitting outside the bus station when they spoke about their experiences.
They said they were subjected to a ‘homophobic’ attack in the stairwell of the bus station, which has since been closed.
One of them said: “Someone tried to urinate on us in the stairwell. It was homophobic kids. They were yelling slurs and then spat on us. I used to feel safe – now I don’t as much.”
The Examiner spent just over an hour at the bus station on Tuesday morning, following reports last month that two older men had been attacked in separate incidents at the station.
One involved a man, 55, the other victim was 69 years old. The younger man was attacked on Saturday April 23, and the elder man was assaulted on Tuesday, April 26, at around 8.30pm.
The bus station was fairly busy, with dozens of people waiting for various services.
The cafe was filling up, Greggs was busy and the general atmosphere was calm. People of all ages were coming and going. It may well be different on an evening, or at weekends, but on a Tuesday morning, the bus station appeared busy and orderly.
Outside there were a few street drinkers who were sitting on a bench near a side entrance to the station. They weren’t causing any bother, just chatting and drinking cans of Carling and cider. One recognised me and we shared some banter.
Inside the bus station, there was one uniformed police officer who was a reassuring presence as he chatted with a security guard just inside the main entrance. It appears that West Yorkshire Police has a close eye on the bus station following recent troubling events.
A little later the officer was called into action to assist a young man who claimed he has been threatened while inside the bus station.
Moments later I spotted a young