Image by Thomas G. from Pixabay
By Betty Jimenez Garzon, Noha Abuqassem, and Simran Gill
Islington’s shopkeepers on Tuesday said they were fed up with local teenagers, who they blamed for stealing items from their shops and vandalism.
“Teenagers are like this everywhere, because of the economy’s collapse,” said Adullah Daud Shah, 37, who owns Selekt Chicken on Holloway Road.
He added that he is concerned with a sudden uptake of incidents, which include spray painting on walls, stealing, and violence.
“There is [also] fighting around here, not as much as Finsbury though,” he said, expressing gratitude that the situation is not as severe as it is in other areas.
A local shop in Islington that has suffered thefts. Image: Simran Gill
Similarly, Ram, 45, who works at the kiosk next to Holloway Road tube station, said: “Yes, it happens a lot. Foreigners are targeted more,” showing that minorities are the groups suffering due to higher vulnerability, as they lack better understanding of this area.
“We cannot physically stop them, it is against the law,” added Ram, who is of Indian descent and did not want to provide his surname.
“I am not scared, I just cannot react,” he said in response to minors shoplifting.
A Sainsbury’s security officer, who also could not provide his name due to confidentiality requirements, admitted that he has encountered such experiences with teenagers who terrorise and display antisocial behaviour.
Local shopkeepers are concerned that such behaviour will continue to rise and disrupt more businesses if more safety measures are not taken. They urge local authorities to intervene and ensure action.
Victim of vandalism in Islington. Image: Simran Gill
Leave a Reply