Keep shopping say traders in midst of rising market crime

ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ON THE INCREASE IN SNEINTON, THEY SAY

- By JOEL MOORE

Caroline White, at The Avenues Cafe opposite Sneinton Market. Inset top right, a hole in the ceiling where a burglar got in

(JOSEPH RAYNOR)

THERE'S nowhere else like Sneinton Market in Nottingham. With colourful avenues bursting with independent shops, galleries and breweries, it offers something unique to the city.

But the maze of bohemian businesses also provides an opportunity for antisocial behaviour and crime, something some traders say is creeping up.

"You can see it's getting iffy at the moment," says Caroline White, who runs The Avenues Cafe at the edge of the market.

Just a few months ago a burglar burrowed their way through the ceiling of her café, dropping into the kitchen and making off with the till. Since then, the 65-year-old has been targeted by graffiti, witnessed daylight drug dealing and had her front door smashed by a man having a mental health episode.

"He kicked the door until we couldn't close the door. He knackered all of it up," she said.

"We don't want to deal with a 6ft 4in man at seven in the morning."