A pair of shoes hang from a telephone line above a street in north Manchester. A group of children play on their bikes, a shop owner watches on from his doorway.
Taxi drivers were once too scared to visit this quiet terraced street in Moston. Gangs were said to “run riot” in the area, attacking delivery drivers and throwing missiles at passersby.
But life on Cicero Street has calmed down in recent years, according to those who live there. While criminality is still happening, locals say it’s “nowhere near” as bad as it used to be.
Doris Isoken stands outside her home, glancing over at two hooded boys walking nearby. “I don’t feel safe; I feel scared,” the 48-year-old says. “Children gather, they almost broke my car window. They didn't allow me to pass; they blocked the road and when I tried to go past, they said no.
"They poured liquid on my car, I had to lock the doors. They always put their bikes on the road. That happened last month. It's not good for the other children, they might learn from it.
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"Before, they stopped and now it's coming back again. The problems were really high and now it's coming back."
Anti-social behaviour was rife on Cicero Street in 2018 when a takeaway delivery rider was mugged in broad daylight. The shocking incident was captured on the worker’s helmet video camera.
The victim could be heard screaming for help as youths punched and kicked him from behind before stealing his phone and bike. The vicious attack was just part of a spate of violence and vandalism plaguing the area at the time.
One current resident, who did not wish to give his name, says there is still a high level of crime and anti-social behaviour on the street. “Someone got their leg chopped off here a few years ago,” the 18-year-old says. “Two days ago, some kid was fighting a fully grown woman, they were on the bonnet of a car.
“It's pretty quiet now; it's nowhere near as bad as it used to be. It used to be mad. I've lived here around six years. Obviously the area is sh**, but it is what it is.”
Hashmat Mohmmadzai, who owns Cicero Street corner shop Zak’s Local, only took over the store six months ago. He says the business has changed hands many times during a short period of time due to problems with the area.
"There are problems all the time, like people breaking into cars at night time. That happens a lot - and people breaking into houses. It's mainly kids and teenagers,” he told the Manchester Evening News.
"We don't really have any problems in the shop, I'm trying to keep it under control. I've been here six months and a lot of shop owners have changed in a short period of time because of the trouble - kids stealing things and annoying them. threatening them financially or personally.
"I don't let them cross their limit. It stresses me out - it's very stressful. Things happen outside the shop and I'm scared I might get the blame for it. They buy something from here then go out and start problems."
Resident Aaron, 29, moved to Cicero Street in August 2019. He felt anxious about moving to the area after reading stories online but has had no problems since arriving at the street.
“I know the year before it was bad,” he added. “After we moved here, I've not had any trouble, I've got to know a few people on this road. There are families and a couple of older people.
"All the people that used to terrorise the street have moved or have been put away. No one seems to cause any trouble around here anymore. I'm glad because I have kids."
Taxi drivers previously told the Manchester Evening News they feared some parts of north Manchester had become “lawless”, naming Cicero Street as one of four roads in Moston which were “especially bad”.
Some drivers had stones thrown at their cars as well as having doors kicked in. Other fed-up traders believed the behaviour was frightening customers away and forcing employees to quit their jobs.
But resident Brian Haughton, who has lived on Cicero Street for more than 14 years, says the area is now a “friendly” place to live. “It's quiet here now because they all got done for it,” the 65-year-old added.
“It's fine. I've lived here for 14 years and have had no problems. You get the odd kid here after school but it's a friendly place, I know a lot of people.”
Another resident, who did not wish to give his name, also believes life on the street has changed dramatically. “Since September last year it's changed,” he says. This area used to be very dangerous. It's very quiet as you can see for yourself.”
But on nearby Moston Lane, some shop owners and staff members are still experiencing high levels of crime today. One worker, who did not wish to give his name, told the MEN: “I got stabbed around the corner from my house a few years ago and there was a car chase just across the road a few weeks ago. We had to have a sign on the door saying no knives, we shouldn't have to do that but we do and that's the sad truth.”
Alex Rostas, who runs a convenience store, says he feels scared to leave his home in fear of being attacked. “We don't have CCTV cameras and a lot of people come and damage the cars.
“They come in here and steal stuff,” the 41-year-old added. “You feel scared to go outside in case someone will hit you.”
Councillor Pat Karney, cllr for Harpurhey in the City of Manchester, believes Cicero Street and the surrounding areas could benefit from a residents’ association. He told the Manchester Evening News: “There are still very big problems but the area has a strong sense of community. We think a local residents association would be a real asset. We will see if we can get one going.”
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