Tackle these shock rises in anti-social behaviour

HOSPITALITY and retail workers, the backbone of our high streets, have borne the brunt of anti-social behaviour for too long.

- ANDREW MOYS

Every day more than 2,000 incidents of violence and abuse are reported - 50% up on the year before, British Retail Consortium figures show.

This shocking surge is matched by an equally alarming rise in the overall cost of retail crime. It has soared to an unsustainable £4.2billion annually, up by nearly £1bn from the previous year's amount.

Perpetrators are bolder and more aggressive, inflicting physical and emotional harm on victims and eroding the sense of safety in our communities.

ISOLATED