Sheffield city centre residents call for number of off-licences to be restricted

The hard work being done to address ongoing issues in Sheffield city centre must continue - that's the message from residents after The Star revealed last year's ten crime hotspots.
Peter Sephton, chairman of Sheffield City Centre Residents' Action Group.Peter Sephton, chairman of Sheffield City Centre Residents' Action Group.
Peter Sephton, chairman of Sheffield City Centre Residents' Action Group.

Peter Sephton, chairman of Sheffield Residents Action Group, said West Street and the surrounding area was 'beginning to improve' but work needed to be stepped up to lower crime rates.

He said: "We see the people causing issues in the city centre as falling into three categories - there are the beggars, there are the rough sleepers and then there are what we call the 'drugaholics'.

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"These are the people who wander around town under the influence of drugs and alcohol and West Street is a bit of a honeypot because they can get alcohol at the off-licences, prescription drugs from the pharmacies and it has been a real problem over the last three years or so."

Mr Sephton said he wasn't surprised by the figures revealed by The Star but said he hoped the council would consider bringing in a cumulative impact policy, which would restrict the number of off-licences in the area.

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"Being a resident in the city centre is totally different to being a visitor to the city centre.

"It's definitely starting to improve - it's not there yet but I am speaking to shopkeepers and it is getting better, thanks to help of the police."