Business owners have hit out over a spate of town centre anti-social behaviour which is affecting their trade.

Complaints have been made to Kent Police and Folkestone and Hythe District Council about the on-going issues in Guildhall Street.

Problems include people drinking in the street, littering, shoplifting, shouting and general aggressive behaviour.

And over the long bank holiday weekend two arrests were made by officers over excessive drinking.

Alcohol was also confiscated from people.

But the unwelcome behaviour is now affecting business owners in the street.

And suggestions have been made to remove the benches, where some groups congregate.

One man posted on Facebook: "I don't like to post this but I am fed up with the benches on Guildhall Street Folkestone.

"I wish they remove them because it is not helping my business.

"I would like to keep the benches for the elderly but all day on Sunday, I had drunks outside my shop, setting their dogs off barking, leaving their empty cans all over the street, and starting fights with people.

"I called the police many times, they rung me back saying no one was available to come out, now I am having to shut my business on Sunday.

"Maybe it's not just the internet why people don't come into town anymore, if they patrolled the streets more people would feel a lot safer.

"I have been talking to people that would like to let shops along Guildhall Street but they told me they won't because of the bad reputation."

The council says it is now working 'on ways to deal with this' behaviour.

A spokesperson for Folkestone and Hythe District Council said: "We are aware of the concerns of residents and businesses in Guildhall Street about anti-social behaviour and we have been working with our partners, including Kent Police, for some time on ways to deal with this.

"Anti-social behaviour associated with drinking, or aggressive begging, can have a huge impact on people and we are doing our best to tackle it in a number of ways, including enforcement through the Public Spaces Protection Order.

"But we also work with partners such as The Rainbow Centre and mental health teams to ensure people are signposted to places where they can get support to tackle issues that may lead to problem behaviour.

'Maybe it's not just the internet why people don't come into town anymore, if they patrolled the streets people would feel a lot safer...' - business owner

"The issue has been discussed at our weekly Community Safety Unit meetings, and staff from our licensing and Trading Standards teams are also looking into complaints.

"Police are patrolling the area and two arrests were made at the weekend in connection with anti-social behaviour and drinking.

"Police have also confiscated alcohol from people whose behaviour is causing a problem, and will continue to do so.

"We would urge people to report all incidents so there can be a record kept and resources can be allocated appropriately."

Inspector Andy Brittenden of Kent Police added: "We are working closely with local businesses and our council colleagues to tackle the issues that have caused concern for people in the Guildhall Street area.

"Recently officers have made arrests and seized alcohol from those who have been acting anti-socially or been involved in shoplifting.

"Currently we are enforcing the local authorities Public Space Protection Order and will continue to target those who blight the community and cause harm to businesses by behaving anti-socially.

"Some of the issues reported to us involve people who struggle with addition to drugs and alcohol or have poor mental health.

"We work with other agencies to signpost these individuals to get help in addition to dealing with any criminal offences that are apparent."

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