The UK metropolis that is ‘like an asylum’ with human poo in streets and shoplifters working riot | UK | News | EUROtoday

Brighton is usually touted as a contemporary British success story, boasting a various, tolerant inhabitants and profitable procuring streets full of unbiased companies.

Every 12 months, a assured seasonal inflow of money comes whooshing in from vacationers, and increasingly folks have chosen to name town and its surrounding space their everlasting house, substituting air pollution within the massive smoke of London for a sea breeze.

But, like every metropolis, it has its downside areas.

Life in St James’s Street, close to the seafront, has been in comparison with a Charles Dickens novel as the world finds itself beset by brazen shoplifters and drug sellers, thieves focusing on vacationers, shouting, violence and human faeces, in accordance with individuals who work there.

Upon arriving, The Express noticed two police neighborhood assist officers outdoors the native Co-op department talking with a member of workers, earlier than crossing the street and popping into Hunter Florist.

Back outdoors on the street, one of many officers stated the neighborhood is a “hotspot” for unhealthy behaviour in Brighton and Sussex, and they also preserve a “high-visibility presence”.

They wouldn’t be drawn on what kind of incidents they should take care of.

The duo had simply spoken with Neil and Frank Stribbling-Rushton, 56 and 66. Neil has owned the store for a decade after shifting from south east London.

He stated anti-social behaviour has turn into normalised.

“There’s quite a lot of kind of physical violence, especially with the shoplifting up the Co-op,” Neil stated.

“We see it and sometimes between themselves on the street; they can have some real fisticuffs that spill out onto the road, and you kind of almost think you’re watching a movie sometimes, and it’s like, no, actually, this is just daily life on this street.”

“The poor Co-op opposite us is raided on a daily basis and it’s quite horrific sometimes what you actually see and kind of the violence that is played out,” the business owner added.

Locals still remember an “open brawl” from 2024.

Frank stated: “It was a Saturday afternoon in Brighton. People were eating al fresco, and this was going on in front of them.

“It was something like gladiatorial.”

A man ran into the florist and asked if they could call an ambulance, he said.

People seem to shoplift not because they have got kids who need food, Neil thinks, but “just to feed themselves, because they can’t be bothered to actually shop”, or resell more expensive produce like meat to then “get their next fix”.

The couple say “herds” of people with substance abuse problems are housed in nearby hostels and bed and breakfasts and congregate on the street and “fire each other up”.

Frank said: “For some purpose the council appear to find them in a single place which simply would not make sense, and is horrible for the native companies and native residents who clearly wish to assist these folks, nevertheless it simply destroys every day life, would not it?”

He expressed frustration at the local police station being only a couple of streets away, but the behaviour seen by the couple every day is allowed to continue.

Frank added: “It’s like civil society has simply damaged down, as a result of there is no legislation and order.”

“To have extra police on the road can be superb as a result of simply that sight does deter and in addition it helps to make different folks really feel protected,” Neil’s husband said.

“Well, even a police presence helps, but the cars just go up the road at 20-odd miles an hour and don’t stop for anything.”

He added: “You usually get the sound of seagulls, but now most days that’s drowned out by them shouting at each other.

“It’s like being at an asylum.

“They pee and defecate by that bin there in open sight of children.”

And sure enough, opposite the florist was said bin, and beside that a deposit of what seemed at the time to be definitely human poo. You, of course, cannot be conclusive without a DNA test.

Sam Morgan, 35, took over The Oak pub in March. He said: “I’ve seen people openly smoking crack out there in broad daylight.

“They’re not trying to hide it.”

He also told The Express that there was “clearly human s***” outdoors the entrance door of the flat he shares together with his girlfriend.

“​​I have two dogs, so I know,” Mr Morgan added. “It’s pretty bad.”

The landlord occasionally has to tell problematic people to leave his pub.

“I’m quite liberal. I’m quite forgiving,” he said. “But I’m also a business owner.”

The Brightonian then recalled an incident whereby a man was urinating outside, seen clearly through the pub’s windows.

A member of staff exclaimed: “Oh my god, that guy has his d*** out.”

Shopkeeper Karpesh Patel, 60, said: “It’s an alcohol-infused road.

“They know the police won’t do anything about it.”

He added: “It’s normality around her; you’ve got to be on the ball.

“Every person will try to do you – you can’t take anybody lightly anymore.”

Fights are a regular thing, Mr Patel said, especially at night.

He added: “We would feel safe if there were any police present on the streets but there never is.

“We just have to keep going with life as it is.

“There’s no help for small shops around here, the independents.

“It’s always been a bad street with a reputation, but it’s getting worse now.”

Nickie Waters, 64, who is originally from London but has been in Brighton for 40 years, has worked in Neil’s shop for three years.

She stated: “Brighton’s changed. It’s a lot different from how it was 30 years ago, for sure. It’s not safe to walk down this high street.

“It’s tough for visitors – the trouble has become normalised and you become slightly immune to it. It’s a terrible thing.”

Store proprietor Gary, 64, stated: “A lot of it is a more social thing. It’s people that just need frickin’ help and it’s not provided for them anymore.

“There’s a lot of them just making it up though, I believe.  You find them screaming in the middle of the street and it probably brings some sort of attention to them that they wouldn’t normally get.

“There’s a lot of good people on the street who just want to get on, and the small minority ruin it for the other people.”

Another store owner said he had stopped putting as many items on display outside, lest they are nicked.

He showed The Express CCTV of several shoplifters, but did not hand over the footage as he wished to remain anonymous.

Inside the Co-op, an employee said shoplifting was “not as bad anymore”, and undercover security deters potential thieves.

He and other workers are advised to “keep clear” and do not pursue those who steal.

Occasionally some become very angry, with the situation going from “zero to 10” after being caught.

The man added that when they know someone is taking high-value items, staff position themselves around the store like a “police operation”, with the manager at the entrance as “the final point”.

James, 55, another business owner, said: “One factor is true – it’s constant. I’ve been right here 20 years and it’s been the identical.”

He added that it is just part of the nature of the area.

“It ebbs and flows… it appears to rely upon whether or not Ringleader sorts hanging round,” James stated. “It’s something I could do without.”

“There’s got to be a better way of earning a living,” Neil said. “Probably being a drug dealer would be easier.”

A spokesperson for Sussex Police stated: “St James’s Street remains a priority for the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Brighton. We remain committed to making the city safer for residents, businesses, and visitors. By working with partner agencies and the local community, we will continue to reduce harm and deliver meaningful change across the area. As St James’s Street is identified as a Hotspot location, enhanced policing activity is in place.

“This contains elevated police visibility via common patrols, in addition to intelligence guided motion, with the purpose of stopping crime, tackling anti-social behaviour and violence, in addition to safeguarding and reassuring the general public. A latest end result from the world contains the upcoming sentencing of 30-year-old, Aji Sinera on February 13. This follows the theft of a susceptible man in St James’s Street in October 2025. Sinera presently stays remanded in custody forward of her sentencing.

“It’s important to not undervalue the vital role that members of the public play in helping us keep the area safe. Reports of crime, suspicious behaviour, and ongoing concerns enable officers on the ground to respond effectively and take positive action. We encourage anyone with concerns to report them online or by calling 101. In an emergency, always call 999.”

Brighton and Hove City Council declined to remark.