1 week Ago By [email protected] (Davina Jethwa)
A village shopkeeper and her workers have been left “traumatised” after a series of “shocking” attacks on the store by unruly yobs. Staff at Hoo News in Main Road on the Peninsula report regular verbal abuse and say they’ve had display stands chucked at them and have even been threatened with acid. The family-run newsagents has been operating for nearly twenty years but has faced a surge in anti-social behaviour of late.
The owner of the store, who does not wish to be named for fear of further threats, said: “We've always had some kind of trouble, but I think it's just got worse now because people can't reprimand kids - there's no discipline in schools, it just overspills onto the streets. “They think they can do what they want, but they can't just carry on doing what they're doing. “If you tell them it's only two at a time to come into the shop, they don't like that, and they still try and push their way in.
“If we say we're going to ring the police, they will turn around and shout to you and say ‘the police aren't going to come out anyway’ - they have their answers for everything.” Last year, CCTV footage at the store captured a disgruntled customer, who was refused service due to his previous behaviour, throwing bags of sweets and display stands at the owner before fleeing. He is also alleged to have threatened to return with acid.
“Another time, someone was caught stealing multiple times from this shop,” the owner said. “One day he tried to come in, and we saw him before he came to the door, so we pushed him out, and he rang the police and said we assaulted him and officers actually came out.” This incident was just four weeks ago.
And earlier this month, cameras caught a group of children heckling workers outside the shop and throwing water at them during the half-term. The retail boss added: “That one particular kid who was at the front of the video - the police knew him. “Apparently, he threatened someone with a plastic knife a little while ago.
“It is a trigger for me because today it's a plastic knife, but tomorrow it could be a real one.” Despite reporting all the incidents to the police, she says officers are often not deployed to assist. She believes this is due to there being little chance of the force securing a prosecution for this type of behaviour.
“Even though it has a massive impact on a lot of our lives and our businesses, there's going to be no repercussions for these children,” she added. “They [officers] did say, if these kids are from social housing, they can be threatened with eviction and that has motivated me more to report things, but there are people in normal housing.” A spokesperson for the police said it had received reports of anti-social behaviour involving young people at the business, and an investigation is underway.
Following the most recent incident on April 12, officers attended and enquiries were completed, including speaking to witnesses and reviewing CCTV when a group of children entered the store shortly before 5pm and allegedly threw liquid from a plastic bottle. A spokesperson added: “Officers are liaising with the owner of the premises and work is ongoing, including with schools, to help identify those responsible so that they and their families can be spoken to and a proportionate resolution reached.” Sadly, these incidents have become the norm for many retail workers.
In Sittingbourne, a number of dispersal orders have been put in place recently following “disorder, abuse and threatening behaviour towards shop staff and members of the public” in the high street. Meanwhile, in Ashford, a war veteran spoke to KentOnline about how anti-social behaviour and thieves were “killing his business”. The owner of Hoo News said: “It's shocking to hear, but it's very normal for us - It is traumatic.
“I think the only course of action really is to give retailers more power to be able to physically hold these children and push them out.” She added: “People who usually come into a shop, make a transaction and leave - there's nothing for you not to like. “If we ask you for ID or if we ask for two kids at a time, there's a reason for it.
“You have to respect it just like I would if I went into another shop. “All we want to do is come to work, do our job and go home - we don't want anything else.” Inspector Paul Diddams of Medway’s Community Safety Unit said: “We fully understand the impact antisocial behaviour can have on residents and local businesses.
“My officers will always pursue the most robust options available to them, including prosecution where appropriate. “I would urge anyone experiencing issues to report them as soon as possible to ensure an effective police response, so that we can track down culprits to face the consequences of their actions.” Anyone with information to assist officers’ enquiries should contact Kent Police on 01634 792209 quoting 46/61675/25.
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