Reporter Adam Toms visited Ipswich, where residents say they are terrified of the town centre and avoid spending time there at night, citing shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and loitering groups of men.
First Impressions and Local Concerns
Arriving near Christchurch Park, Toms noted the area looked respectable, with pastel-coloured townhouses on Fonnereau Road and Crown Street. However, properties in the former postcode have an overall average price of just £175,000 over the last year, according to Rightmove.
Heading towards the town centre, which has been described online as being like a "horror film", Toms observed a few people who looked like troublemakers in Tavern Street, but they moved on shortly after his arrival.
Crime Statistics and Business Impact
In the Alexandra area of Ipswich, police recorded 227 crimes, down from 261 the previous month. These included violence and sexual offences (106), public order offences (26), shoplifting (20) and anti-social behaviour (18).
Locals told Toms the high street terrified them, and they do not venture out at night. Shoplifting, anti-social behaviour and loitering groups of men put them off staying in the centre longer than necessary, which has a knock-on effect on businesses. One person said their takings have halved in four years.
Residents' Experiences and Underlying Issues
Residents said things used to be better, reminiscing about spending time in the town decades ago when it contained a better array of independent companies. One woman, Sufiyah Ali, 23, said she was racially abused and that Manchester, where she used to live, was a lot safer than Ipswich.
Sausage stand worker Chase Burgess, 21, said: "A lot of it is just below the surface. If you look for it, you’re going to see it. But a lot goes unseen."
David Grothier, 60, who is sleeping in a tent in the street, said theft is done by people trying to survive, adding that people on the street do not all commit misdemeanors. Toms concluded that better support services are needed so people do not have to come to the high street and commit crime, though he expressed doubt that such measures will arrive soon despite the Prime Minister's stated desire to end homelessness.
