![\"Several](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_St-Helens-anti-social-behaviour-article-4.jpg\")
Several locals said they rarely visit the town centre(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\nMerseyside Police are contacting schools and finding photos of the suspectsSeveral locals said they rarely visit the town centre(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n
A Merseyside town is suffering from shut down shops and \u201cferal\u201d gangs of kids<\/a>, according to people who live there. The last week has seen St Helens make the headlines after reports of anti-social behaviour.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Pop Up Market Co, which has held markets in Church Square, St Helens<\/a> town centre, and in Earlestown<\/a> over the last year, said it would not be returning to either location due to anti-social behaviour<\/a> having a \u201creal impact\u201d on trade. However, the council denied these claims.<\/p>\n They said there had been only one recent report of such behaviour at the market which was dealt with \u201cimmediately\u201d. On Tuesday night, a gang of youths targeted<\/a> The Range store on Chalon Way West. After being refused entry, they tried to force their way in.<\/p>\n Merseyside Police<\/a> were called and asked the youths to leave the area. The force detained one person for breach the peace and two others were taken home.<\/p>\n The ECHO<\/a> visited the town centre after these reports to speak to locals about the issue. Many of those we spoke to said they no longer came into town that often, both because of anti-social behaviour and the general state of the town centre.<\/p>\n Like many high streets, areas of St Helens have struggled to stem the tide of closing shops and rising prices. Paul Bemaman, 58, and his neighbour Bernard Ledwith, 77, were making a rare visit to the town\u2019s shopping area.<\/p>\n Paul told the ECHO: \u201cI don\u2019t come into town as much and I guess it\u2019s because of that (anti-social behaviour). But it\u2019s also because of town generally, there\u2019s not much to do here.\u201d<\/p>\n Bernard added: \u201cSt Helens used to be lovely and there were lots of things to do but there\u2019s not as much to do now. We live in town and we don\u2019t come in that much.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew there was a market here but didn\u2019t know it was going, that\u2019s a shame. I\u2019ve not seen any anti-social behaviour myself but it\u2019s like anywhere – you get good people and you get bad people here. That\u2019s how it is.\u201d<\/p>\n One woman, who asked not to be named, said large groups of youths often come into the town centre after 5pm and verbally abuse others.<\/p>\n She said: \u201cI think for them, they’re always in a gang and it’s a bit of status. Sometimes, when they’re here, it’s frightening because of the speed they’re riding their bikes around.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen they’re doing something and you say, excuse me, can you stop doing that, you just get a load of abuse. If my kid behaved like that, they\u2019d never step outside the house again. I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any deterrent.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no police around a lot of the time. To be honest, when the police are here and say something to them, the police get a load of abuse too. Fact is, they\u2019re not frightened of the police.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a terrible thing to say we’ve got used to it. You\u2019d think young people would have more respect for elderly but they don\u2019t. At our age, we should be able to sit here peacefully.\u201d<\/p>\n A local dad, who also asked not to be named, said he had witnessed the trouble at The Range. He saw the youths “terrorising\u201d staff, trying to enter the store through the emergency doors and setting off the fire alarms.<\/p>\n The man added that the problem of anti-social behaviour generally in the town was getting worse. He said: \u201cThey are horrendous. The kids there are just feral, they have no ounce of respect. They do all kinds. They drive around thinking they own the place.<\/p>\n \u201cFour months ago, kids were walking around with BB guns. They don\u2019t realise how much trouble they\u2019re getting themselves in by doing that. The parents should be setting an example.<\/p>\n \u201cYou’ve got kids smoking weed, drinking ale and leaving their stuff there. The kids have got nothing to go to. Kids know they can get away with it.<\/p>\n \u201cEven the security guards, they\u2019re not putting in any effort. It’s not worth it. It’s such a shame. The town used to thrive. I would rather do my shopping on Edge Lane, Liverpool ONE or the Trafford Centre. It’s just horrendous.\u201d<\/p>\n In the wake of increasing reports of antisocial behaviour, Merseyside Police have sought to reassure residents. In a statement issued to the ECHO, local policing Inspector Tara Smith said: \u201cWe won\u2019t tolerate any kind of anti-social behaviour in our community and understand the impact it has on residents.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are aware that a small minority of youths are causing such trouble on Chalon Way West and the surrounding area of St Helens.<\/p>\n \u201cI would like to reassure the community that by contacting schools and obtaining photos and names of the suspects involved we are actively and robustly responding to the situation. Community protection notices and ASB warning letters have been sent out to prevent any further criminality.<\/p>\n “Our officers are working with businesses in the area to improve their security and our safer initiative team and outreach workers will provide extra attention in the area over the next coming weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cThis area of St Helens is a priority focus location and we have the powers to deal with groups causing harassment, alarm and distress.<\/p>\n \u201cI ask businesses in the area to check your CCTV footage and contact us if they think it has captured the perpetrators causing the issue to help identify them and bring them to justice.\u201d<\/p>\n St Helens Council referred us to the statement made earlier this week on anti-social behaviour and the market by a council director.<\/p>\n Lisa Harris, Executive Director of Place at St Helens Borough Council, said: “As a council we take concerns around antisocial behaviour and public safety seriously.<\/p>\n \u201cOver previous months the council has been working with a number of partners to improve public safety and to respond to any reports of anti-social behaviour.<\/p>\n \u201cIn St Helens town centre this includes the upgrading of CCTV, the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) and the introduction of Youth Engagement Officers with our youth partner Vibe UK.<\/p>\n “Indeed, we are only aware of one reported incident of anti-social behaviour in St Helens town centre involving the Pop-Up Market, which was dealt with immediately.<\/p>\n \u201cSt Helens Council and Merseyside Police are not aware of any further reported incidents of anti-social behaviour regarding the Pop-Up Market operations in either St Helens or Earlestown town centres. Also, current data does not indicate a decline in footfall.<\/p>\n “As part of our town centre regeneration programmes, and alongside the highly visible redevelopment works that are advancing at pace, we continue to explore opportunities like the Pop-Up Market Co initiative we facilitated to deliver diverse, high-quality experiences for residents and visitors to our town centres.<\/p>\n “We are currently working with an alternative provider for both St Helens and Earlestown pop up markets.”<\/p>\n In terms of the town centre generally, St Helens Council\u2019s planning committee approved the reserved matters application for phase one of a regeneration scheme.<\/p>\n Phase one will replace the former Hardshaw Shopping Centre with a \u201creimagined\u201d central district featuring new buildings, community spaces, and climate resilient landscaping.<\/p>\n The project is being led by the council alongside the English Cities Fund, a partnership between Homes England, L&G, and Muse.<\/p>\n The phase one scheme includes a modern market hall, a 120-bed Hampton by Hilton hotel, 56 apartments, eight townhouses, and 4,266 sq ft of modern format retail space.<\/p>\n Anyone with information on ASB in St Helens can contact the Merseyside Police\u2019s social media desk @MerPolCC on X and Facebook<\/a>. You can also report information via the website<\/a> or by calling 101.<\/p>\n![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_Helens-anti-social-behaviour-article-1-resident-Paul-Bemann.jpg\")
Paul believes the town centre has declined in recent years(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n![\"Merseyside](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_Police-at-The-Range-St-Helens.jpg\")
Merseyside Police received a report at 6.25pm on Tuesday October 1 of youths causing a nuisance at The Range in St Helens(Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n![\"Plans](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/0_St-Helens-anti-social-behaviour-article-3.jpg\")
Plans are in place to regenerate the town centre(Image: Liverpool Echo)<\/p>\n