Sign up to the Hull Live newsletter for daily updates and breaking news Sign up here! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Street drinkers in Newland Avenue have spoken out after they have been accused by some traders as putting off customers from shopping in the area.

A group, who have been known to regularly sit on the bench outside Sainsbury's have been branded as "drunks" and "beggars" who accost passers by for money, shout, swear and even have sex in public.

Because of their alleged behaviour, some business owners have said their custom is dwindling, with one trader even saying he fears his shop will have to close if the antisocial behaviour continues.

It comes after Newland Avenue was branded a "warzone" by a Hull security guard who works in a shop along the street, who said that death threats, fights, robberies and more are all common place in the area.

(Image: Hull Live)

But some of the people drinking on the bench they say they just go there to socialise and do not want to cause any harm - but proudly admit to having sex on it.

'I've n***ed him off, but what's the issue?'

Emma, who has been seen having sex on the bench before with her boyfriend, says she does not think it is a problem.

"Yeah we have had sex on the bench before, and I've n***ed him off as well but what's the issue? It was dark and we were in the mood and it didn't do anyone any harm," she said.

"We're nice people and all people need to do is just come up to us and say hello if they've got a problem. We don't bite. Yeah we might ask people if they've got a cig or if they can give us or a spare bit of change, but they can say no and we don't get nasty or anything.

"All we're here for is to have a good time and there's no crime in street drinking. The police have even said we aren't doing anything wrong and as long as we aren't too loud, there's no problem in being here."

If we get a bit frisky when we've had a drink then so what?

The boyfriend of Emma, who did not want to be named, agreed with his partner and was also openly proud of the couple's sexual antics.

"This is my bench. I come here with my girlfriend and if we get a bit frisky when we've had a drink then so what? I'm sure everyone who's had a drink knows what it's like when you get a bit horny," he said.

"I might ask someone if they've got 20p, but I don't care if they say no and I just thank them anyway.

"For us it's just somewhere to hang about and have a laugh and a drink."

'I just come out here to socialise'

Bobby, a heroin user, who says he visits the bench every couple of weeks but he does not want to cause any trouble by congregating there to see his friends.

"I’m a heroin user so I don't often drink really and only have some beers now and again so it's not like I'm here p***ed off my face, I just come out here to socialise," he said.

"We might be a bit loud and I have asked people for money before, but I’d rather people just speak to us if they have a problem rather than looking down on us.

"We are still people as well and just have different circumstances that's all."

'We all get looks from people like we are beneath them'

Another man on the bench, who did not want to be named, said he could understand why the group could be labelled as rowdy, but said that he never begs and only comes out on to the Avenue to get out of the house and see his friends.

(Image: Hull Live)

"I'm not homeless, I've got a house but it's disgusting and filled with rats and mould so I come out here to see my mates so that I'm not just sat depressed looking at my four walls," he said.

"I just come out and have a laugh with my mates and it’s sociable here. I understand that you’ll get people saying we are beggars, but we don't all ask for money and I know that I don't.

Watch: Security guard David Hall speaking about the decline of Newland Avenue

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

"If it was that bad we would get moved on. I’m disabled so I can't work - I'm on the sick. I would if I could.

"But we all get looks from people like we are beneath them and you can hear them calling. They look at us like we are p*** heads when we're not.

"Yeah someone was s****** someone off and I told them it’s disgusting. I don't agree with that when there's kids that go past us, and I don't think we should all be tarred with the same brush."

What the police say

Inspector Mark Peasgood said Newland Avenue is a thriving area with a real community spirit and that the main shopping street, shop keepers and residents deserve and have the support of their local community policing team.



He said: “By reporting incidents of anti-social aggressive begging and street drinking to the police we can act on the information people give us.

“Following intelligence and information from the local community a multi-agency week of action took place in September where eight people were arrested, three warrants were executed and £40,000 worth of counterfeit tobacco was taken off the streets."

This week officers joined local community teams and partners in dealing with parking issues, public health concerns and litter.

"This is a priority within the community safety partnership which brings a range of agencies together to tackle the issues in the community," said Inspector Mark Peasgood.





“All of this work helps us to get to know our communities even better than before, building up a strong picture of what’s needed, and building trust in the police.



“I can’t stress enough how important it is for people to tell us about any concerns they have, the local team hold frequent street surgeries and these are a perfect opportunity for people to come and talk to us, if people are experiencing problems in their area please just come and talk to us, we can and will help.”

Watch: How do police deal with minor crimes?

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now





Click here for more about the police work in the Avenues this week and for information on what police action is taking place in the Newland Avenue area and for police surgeries follow this link.

To report crime and antisocial behaviour in your area, call police on their non-emergency 101 line, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if you would rather not give your name.

Follow all the latest news by Anna Riley The author of this article, Anna Riley, has been a reporter at Hull Live since May 2018. Her interests include first person feature writing, human interest stories and breaking news. You can email stories to anna.riley@reachplc.com or call 01482 315 311. Or you can follow Anna on social media: Facebook - click here Twitter - click here LinkedIn - click here Hull Live - click here.

Follow Hull Live

Our daily newsletter - To get the latest headlines direct to your email inbox every day, click here.

Download our app - You can download our free app for iPhone and iPad from Apple's App Store, or get the Android version from Google Play.

Follow Hull Live on Facebook - Like our Facebook page to get the latest news in your feed and join in the lively discussions in the comments. Click here to give it a like!

Follow us on Twitter - For breaking news and the latest stories, click here to follow Hull Live on Twitter.

Follow us on Instagram - On the Hull Live Instagram page we share gorgeous pictures of our stunning city - and if you tag us in your posts, we could repost your picture on our page! We also put the latest news in our Instagram Stories. Click here to follow Hull Live on Instagram.