Tackling anti-social behaviour in retail areas
London Borough of Barking is currently piloting a complex Responsible Retailer Agreement to tackle an anti-social behaviour around a parade of shops.
Issues include supplying alcohol to street drinkers, fly-tipping, inappropriate storage of waste in adjacent alleyways and poorly maintained shop frontages, which all contribute to poor local environmental quality and increased fear of crime.
An agreement with all the shopkeepers in the area aims to engage business outside of the usual enforcement relationship and get support from retailers to tackle street drinking and rough sleeping. The agreement encourages businesses to recognise their role in giving the area a new positive identity, which can only benefit the wider community and ideally, increase usage of the area.