Shop owner says businesses being tormented by youths

The owner of a mobile phone repair shop in Bangor has said he and other traders have been the victims of a "torrent of abuse" from a group of youths in recent weeks.

Naveed Aslam said shop items were thrown at him and he had been subjected to racial abuse.

He said the latest incident was on Tuesday when items were stolen and he was pushed by a teenager when he asked the youth to leave the shop.

Police said they were investigating reports of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in Bangor city centre.

Mr Aslam told BBC News NI: "It started shortly after I opened in June but has gotten worse and worse, especially recently.

"They call me all sorts of names, sometimes racist names, really hurtful stuff.

"They steal, they move things, they have thrown some of the plugs we sell at me and one of them even said he wanted to burn down my shop.

"I was pushed on Tuesday after they stole a vape from me after I refused to sell them anything.

"If I go out to grab something for lunch, they have followed me and shouted stuff at me."

Mr Aslam has reported a number of incidents to police and has now introduced a "only one teenager in the store at any one time" policy to try and manage the situation.

He said he loved working in Bangor and was grateful to city's community for the support he had received.

Bangor Chamber of Commerce president Frank Shivers said Mr Aslam's business was one of several targeted by the group.

"It's hard enough to manage and operate a business these days without having to contend with this kind of disruption," he said.

Mr Shivers urged those responsible to reconsider their actions.

"We can only hope that common sense prevails, that these individuals recognise the damage they're causing, and that this kind of behaviour comes to an end."

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it was calling on parents and guardians to talk their young people and to know where they are in order to prevent them from engaging in behaviour that could result in injury or a criminal record.