Anti-social behaviour on a popular Cardiff high street has reached the point where customers are afraid to walk down the road and businesses are suffering. Cowbridge Road East in Canton has had problems with street drinking for years but one pub landlord said it's now so bad that people have defecated on his doorstep and verbally abused his partner, as well as grabbing customers' drinks through the window of his pub.
Cowbridge Road East is home to a number of independent businesses and has seen issues with anti-social behaviour on the benches outside Tesco Express, from people drinking and swearing at passers-by, for over two years. Police have been issuing dispersal notices to try and remedy the behaviour, and confirmed that several arrests had already been made after an "increased uniformed presence" in the area.
But local business owners and managers said the problem has continued. One, who did not want to be named, said: "It's been really bad and it's driving people out of town. Local people come in here complaining about swearing and fighting, and ambulances and police being called up.
