Workers at a city centre business targeted by a gang were told "we are teenagers and nobody can touch us."
Staff at P&D Deli, on the corner of Richmond Street and Tarleton Street, were attacked by the gang while they were trying to serve customers. Footage was posted online of the incident which appears to shows a group of children picking up chairs from the deli and attempting to throw them.
The family-run business told the ECHO that the incident happened on Saturday, February 11. Co-owner Donato Cillo said: "Liverpool city centre should be the safest place but lately there are gangs of teenagers that just want to disturb everyone.
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"It seemed to get worse after lockdown something happened, gangs of teenagers just started to go around and they mess up Liverpool city centre."
P&D Deli and the bakery next door were targeted on this occasion, but Donato said it's not the first time and he is "worried" it won't be the last. Staff were also told that other businesses including the nearby JD Wetherspoon Welkin pub were also hit by teenage anti-social behaviour more recently.
He added: "I know we're not the only business being hit but they keep coming back. They shout 'we are teenagers and nobody can touch us' and that's the worst mentality for them to have.
"It's not about 'nobody can touch them', it's about education , it's about the whole culture, everything. We've made a big investment of time and dedication for it to be ruined by a teenage gang."
The family business has been in operation for more than 10 years but Donato now fears abuse towards staff is the new normal. He added: "It makes you worry about your staff and customers, its scary. My worry is we're a family businesses , and the problem is , even the police they do their best but they cannot touch them."
With big events, such as Eurovision, coming to Liverpool Donato said: "It will be fantastic for the city but we need to be careful. It needs to be safer for everyone.
"It's a big chance for our city to make right, big chance, especially after lockdown and all the losses we made. It's big for the economy but also for our culture. I worry these will ruin it."
Merseyside Police were made aware of the incident and are asking witnesses to come forward.
A spokesperson said: "We can confirm we received a report of anti-social behaviour in Liverpool city centre on Saturday February 11. At around 3.40pm, it was reported that a group of youths were throwing chairs on Richmond Street.
"Officers attended the scene but the group had dispersed. There were no reported injuries."
If you witnessed this incident or have any information, CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage to assist, please contact @MerPolCC or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 with reference 23000122948.
In 2021 the ECHO ran a special report on problems in the area following a number of reports of anti-social behaviour.
At the time, Community Policing Inspector Charlotte Irlam said: “Where we have received reports of anti-social behaviour and criminality in Whitechapel we have taken swift action including introducing a number of dispersal zones, to ensure that the minority of people who engage in such behaviour can be moved out of the area.
“We also work with our partners including local businesses, residents and Liverpool City Council to prevent anti-social behaviour in all areas of the city centre. Working with the City Watch team who operate the city centre’s extensive CCTV network we have taken a partnership approach to address the problem to ensure that the area is a safe place for all to enjoy.
“We know that the overwhelming majority of young people across Merseyside who to come into the city centre to meet friends and enjoy themselves after a long and difficult behave perfectly reasonably. However, as we have shown, where we receive reports of anti-social behaviour and criminality we will not hesitate to take action."
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