The brutal truth of life on the streets of a crime-ridden city was revealed as locals told of a grim reality where drug dealers run amok and police pass 'every minute'. The huge figure was predicted to be the economic impact of crime in the city - which was named this year's UK City of Culture. When MailOnline visited Bradford, locals told of their fear while small businesses revealed how unrelenting crime levels were forcing them to the brink.
Garth Durkin, who has run Aloha Sunbeds on Grattan Road for nearly 10 years, told how his client list had plunged by a third with customers too scared of being accosted by beggars, drug addicts and prostitutes. People are closing up because drugs and violence are rife. Bradford - the 'crime capital' of the UK. Locals told of how police can be seen passing 'every minute' in the crime-ridden district.
Images show how rundown and crime-ridden the streets of Bradford have become. The addicts queue up outside the solicitors waiting for their gear. They get particularly nasty if you've not got change. I've got to put a light on to make sure that I know who's coming in and who's coming out. Mr Durkin, who is looking to move his business, told how a neighbouring shop has changed hands three times in two years after being constantly targeted by thieves. He said: 'I'd say that figure was too low.
The drug problem in Bradford is rife and everything flows from that. Piles of litter and disposed alcohol bottles could be spotted around the city. Mr Durkin, who is looking to move his business, told of how a neighbouring shop has changed hands three times in two years after being constantly targeted by thieves. When my son came out of university, the first thing he said to me was: 'Dad, I'm leaving.
He said 'how's Bradford? People think "there's a chance that I might get caught up in something now. It comes among calls for increased policing in Bradford during the night by business groups, according to the Telegraph and Argus.
