{"id":61615,"date":"2021-12-17T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=61615"},"modified":"2023-10-17T11:18:51","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T10:18:51","slug":"criminal-damage-how-crime-affects-our-indie-business-owners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2021\/12\/17\/criminal-damage-how-crime-affects-our-indie-business-owners\/","title":{"rendered":"Criminal damage: How crime is affecting our city\u2019s independent business owners"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Following break-ins, vandalism, and knife-crime in the capital, many independent shopkeepers are becoming increasingly worried about their vulnerability to crime<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"A street in Cardiff, where independent businesses are becoming more concerned about crime.\" class=\"wp-image-61619\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"A street in Cardiff, where independent businesses are becoming more concerned about crime.\" class=\"wp-image-61619\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime1-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>How safe are our streets for Cardiff\u2019s independent businesses? Photo Credit: Taylor Floyd Mews on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">O<\/span>wning an independent business is not a job for the fainthearted. From managing finances to customer service, small business owners face many challenges every day. Crime, however, is one issue out of the control of business owners, but one which the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fsb.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Federation of Small Businesses<\/a> (FSB) warns has a &#8220;devastating&#8221; impact on them . <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The financial costs of crimes such as break-ins and vandalism &#8220;prevent small businesses from achieving their potential and growing,&#8221; said Rob Basini, development manager at FSB South Wales. He also stressed how crime can put shopkeepers and their staff at physical risk, and how this (alongside crime&#8217;s financial effects) can seriously affect independent business owners&#8217; mental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Incidents can quickly escalate, and often have a profound and lasting impact on victims<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>In November 2021, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk\/stores\/location\/details\/id\/66\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jojo Maman Bebe Cardiff<\/a>&#8216;s regional store manager Sophie Iles and the community of independent business owners who inhabit the Royal Arcade were left shaken after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/news\/wales-news\/cardiff-arcade-police-affray-fight-22122383\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">fight and alleged stabbing<\/a> occurred within the arcade one morning.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because Sophie&#8217;s customers are mostly pregnant women and individuals with young children, incidents like November\u2019s are particularly worrying for her business.&nbsp;\u201cMy main concern now is how it could affect our trade,\u201d the 30-year-old said, \u201cPeople may be more hesitant to come in.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">How is crime affecting Cardiff&#8217;s independent businesses?<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yVb2vCyGNDs\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><noscript><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yVb2vCyGNDs\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">An attack on the heart of Cardiff<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignright is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"sbi-embed-wrap\"><blockquote class=\"instagram-media sbi-embed\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tv\/CTrvcJxI7fX\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tv\/CTrvcJxI7fX\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tv\/CTrvcJxI7fX\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">A post shared by Secret Garden Cafe, Cardiff (@secretgardencf)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption>Watch Melissa&#8217;s full video above. Credit: Melissa Boothman, the Secret Garden Cardiff Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Another issue affecting Cardiff businesses is the threat posed by vandalism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the morning of 10 September 2021, Cardiff Council and South Wales Police received reports of \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/news\/wales-news\/vandals-damage-cardiff-bute-park-21535011\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">significant criminal damage<\/a>\u201d to Bute Park. Vandals had cut down 50 trees, damaged drains and bins, and attacked properties within the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Melissa Boothman, owner of the <a href=\"https:\/\/bute-park.com\/attraction\/secret-garden-cafe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Secret Garden cafe<\/a> in Bute Park, called September\u2019s incident \u201can attack on the heart of Cardiff\u201d in a video which she posted on the cafe\u2019s Instagram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the video, Melissa explained that the \u201chuge\u201d, \u201cnasty\u201d and \u201cdestructive\u201d incident during which her cafe\u2019s signs, trees and parasols were targeted by vandals, had left her and others connected to the park distressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Melissa\u2019s plea in the video for anyone who had any potential information about the vandalism to come forward and speak to the police echoes the words of South Wales Police\u2019s local policing Inspector Darren Grady when asked to comment about protecting independent businesses from similar incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIncidents of antisocial behaviour can quickly escalate, and often have a profound and lasting impact on those who are victims,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cToo often we are seeing incidents appear on social media that have not been reported. We ask that the community work with us, and if you see or experience any antisocial behaviour, please report it to us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inspector Grady stressed that in addition to the 101 telephone service, incidents can be reported to the police via <a href=\"mailto:SWP101@south-wales.police.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">email<\/a>, private messages on Facebook or Twitter, or through <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/SWPReportOnline\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">In today\u2019s society, nobody is safe<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Tony Frawley, director of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.scaramanticapizzeria.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Scaramantica<\/a> pizzeria on Penylan Road, says his main concern is his staff being attacked while travelling to and from the business. \u201cIn today\u2019s society, nobody is safe,\u201d Tony said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to increase his own confidence, the 59-year-old attends a self-defence class and has encouraged his staff to participate as well. \u201cYou have to take these measures,\u201d he said seriously, \u201cbecause the other alternative is you get stabbed, or beaten.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-1024x512.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-61918\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-770x385.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-1366x683.png 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-585x293.png 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-1170x585.png 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-293x147.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-1400x700.png 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-1024x512.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-61918\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-770x385.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-1366x683.png 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-585x293.png 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-1170x585.png 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-293x147.png 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1-1400x700.png 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/Business_HannahWatkin_BisCrime4-1.png 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Maternity store manager Sophie Iles, left, and pizzeria director Tony Frawley, right, have both become increasingly concerned about crime in their businesses\u2019 areas. Photo Credit: Hannah Watkin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In May this year, Anatoni\u2019s, a pizzeria on Wellfield Road which Tony previously directed, was broken into in one of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walesonline.co.uk\/news\/wales-news\/cardiff-wellfield-road-where-roath-20894550\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">several break-ins<\/a> on the road this summer. Thinking about the effect these incidents had on independent business owners in the area, Tony said, \u201cIt puts people on edge. You have to be so vigilant, all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tony made it clear that the community remains shaken from what appears to them to be an increasing problem. However, recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/peoplepopulationandcommunity\/crimeandjustice\/datasets\/policeforceareadatatables\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">crime statistics<\/a> released by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Office for National Statistics<\/a> suggest that crime was actually falling in South Wales in the time leading up to the break-ins on Wellfield Road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From June 2020-June 2021, South Wales Police recorded 617 fewer non-residential burglaries than in the previous year, and 596 fewer cases of criminal damage and arson. The force saw a five percent decrease in the total number of crimes they recorded over the same comparative period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, what these figures don\u2019t show is whether the severity of crimes is increasing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Timeline of some recent crime in Cardiff<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">6 and 7 June:<\/span><\/strong> St Andrew&#8217;s Coffee Court, Wellfield Road, broken into and vandalised<\/li><li><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">20 June:<\/span><\/strong> Anatoni&#8217;s Pizzeria, Wellfield Road, broken into<\/li><li><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\"><strong>10 September:<\/strong><\/span> Vandals attack Bute Park, including the Secret Garden cafe<\/li><li><strong><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">5 November:<\/span><\/strong> Alleged stabbing occurs on St Mary Street near Cardiff Market<\/li><li><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\"><strong>10 November:<\/strong><\/span> Fight and alleged stabbing occurs in the Royal Arcade<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Determined to make a community stand against the vandalism which hit Bute Park, Melissa and others connected to the park went on to organise a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CT66hTmgJy0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reclaim Bute Park<\/a> community walk. She also set up a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/crowdfunding\/restoreandprotectbutepark\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Just Giving page<\/a> which has so far raised over \u00a34,000 for restoration work at the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The defiance and continued positivity which independent business owners such as Melissa and Tony have shown in response to the incidents which have affected their businesses suggests Cardiff\u2019s shopkeepers remain strong despite their increasing concerns about crime in the capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Rob explained that because of the pandemic, it appears as if solving the problem of small business crime has had to &#8220;go on the back burner&#8221; for a lot of authorities. The FSB believes a lot more should be done by the UK government and regional police forces to tackle the problem of small business crime in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For now, the FSB offers financial support for members who are affected by cybercrime and also offers counselling to deal with the effects all kinds of crime can have on business owners&#8217; mental health. The people of Cardiff can support our independent business owners by continuing to shop local, and by reporting crimes to South Wales Police.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Following break-ins, vandalism, and knife-crime in the capital, many independent business owners are worried about their vulnerability to crime<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":771,"featured_media":61730,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7087,7936],"tags":[7572,150,696,6320,990,7571,2171,1910,3260,7526,40,1894,3369],"coauthors":[7357],"class_list":["post-61615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-long-reads","category-public-life","tag-break-ins","tag-business","tag-bute-park","tag-cardiff-business","tag-crime","tag-federation-of-small-businesses","tag-friends-of-bute-park","tag-fsb","tag-independent-business","tag-knife-crime","tag-south-wales-police","tag-vandalism","tag-wellfield-road"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ 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