Businesswoman's fears after discovering used syringes outside her Chesterfield shop

Sofia Latif-Ward, 31, says she and fellow business-owners around Brampton have noticed increasing numbers of people walking around nearby streets drinking alcohol or appearing to be intoxicated.

But events have taken a turn for the worse since she discovering used syringes in an alleyway at the rear of her shop.

Sofia, manager of Harleys Interiors, said: “It is not nice now the nights are drawing-in, especially as most people who work on Chatsworth Road have to park on side streets.

“At the salon next door girls go in pairs to get their cars before leaving at night.

“Just this week I saw three rough-looking guys just stood on Factory Street gazing at a fence.

“It worries me because my daughter goes to Brampton Primary School and just the other day I saw a guy completely off his face just walking into the road.”

Sofia said other businesses along the busy road have voiced similar concerns, with a nearby shop resorting to bricking its back door up after being broken into three times.

To make matters worse, after reporting the syringes outside her shop to chesterfield Borough Council, Sofia was told that the council would have to charge for their removal as they were on private property.

She said: “They have told me I have to clean them up but I am not going to on principal - why should I put myself in danger?”

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Landowners are responsible for maintaining their own properties and ensuring they are kept clean and tidy.

“We take reports of anti-social behaviour seriously and work with the police to keep our communities safe.

“Anyone wanting to report anti-social behaviour should report it on the police’s non-emergency number, 101.”