A BRADFORD businessman has raised concerns about crime in the heart of the city - and called for more to be done to combat it.
Garth Durkin, who has run Aloha Sunbeds on Grattan Road for nearly 10 years, contacted the Telegraph & Argus this week over what he called the "deterioration" of the city centre.
He said he was "fed up" of witnessing offences happening outside his business and in surrounding locations - including yobbish and abusive behaviour and drug-dealing.
Mr Durkin told the Telegraph & Argus: "Over the last few years, the city centre - especially around the area where we have our business - has deteriorated beyond recognition.
"Just on Monday morning, seven men were loitering outside our premises, shouting and being verbally aggressive to people passing and coming in to our business.
"I rang Bradford BID, which has wardens patrolling the city centre, only to be told they don't work Mondays, so their operative advised me to call the police.
"In the time it took the police to answer, two cars had pulled up and supplied the men with something, and they moved off towards Sunbridge Road.
"Then early the following morning, a group was served by a drug-dealer outside my premises."
He said there had been other similar incidents outside his business lately - and raised concerns about "homeless people and rough sleepers congregating at various sites in the city centre causing issues and committing crimes".
He added that he had recently heard of a man being mugged in broad daylight on Grattan Road - but the victim did not want to speak to the T&A about his ordeal.
Mr Durkin said he felt police, Bradford Council and Bradford BID's wardens were not doing enough to "stop the continuous disruption on the streets of Bradford".
He added: "Will this city - which I have lived and worked in for more than 50 years - become the laughing stock of the country when the outside world visits during City of Culture 2025?
"Bradford is on a massive decline which may be too late to halt.
"I want to see more done to tackle the very real issues we face."
He also raised concerns about "lack of cleanliness" on the streets as well as roadworks causing disruption.
Meanwhile, on social media site X, former Bradford councillor Si Cunningham welcomed the news that two yobs had been hauled before the courts for riding dirt bikes across City Park - but added: "It's a drop in the ocean for current levels of city centre anti-social behaviour.
"We now have the tech and infrastructure to enforce a proper 'ring of steel' for BD1 and send a message that it's a safe place to visit.
"That's currently not the perception."
The T&A put the concerns raised to West Yorkshire Police, Bradford Council and Bradford BID.
West Yorkshire Police did not provide a comment.
However, a force spokesperson pointed to a recent press release about a number of people being arrested on suspicion of drug offences in Bradford city centre.
The press release said: "This operation was initiated as a direct response to recent concerns raised from the local community.
"If anyone has any information about drug supply across the district, they can report it to police via 101 or use the report it form at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/report-it."
The spokesperson also pointed out that West Yorkshire Police held the first of a series of Action Partners events in Bradford city centre recently.
Police were joined by staff from Bradford Council, Bradford BID, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and other local organisations for a briefing.
"This was an opportunity for partners to learn about issues affecting community safety in the area, and to share the latest information about what was being done to tackle these," the spokesperson added.
A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "The work going on in Bradford city centre is a £43 million investment to make it an easier, safer and pleasant place for people to get around and spend time, bringing more footfall and dwell-time into the central area, which will be better for businesses in the long term.
"Inevitably there is short-term disruption while these works go on and we thank people for their patience.
"Obviously there is no excuse for anti-social behaviour and we work closely with the police to clamp down on this wherever it is found."
Meanwhile, Jonny Noble, Bradford BID chief executive, responded to Mr Durkin's concerns by saying: "Bradford BID operates within a strict regulated demise area and unfortunately this business is outside of this area and is not a member.
"We do, however, provide a BID Patrol Team to assist our nearly 600 member businesses.
"It is important to stress that this is a small team and they are not there to replace other statutory services.
"They work a variety of shift patterns to suit the needs of our member businesses and ensure they get rest days."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel