The city has seen an increase in crime in recent times. (Image: Paul Marriott)
Gangs of thieving youths and drunken homeless people are wreaking havoc in a historic UK city. Locals say the situation is getting worse, with business owners concerned that the increase in crime is having an impact on their trade.
Peterborough, in Cambridgeshire, has recently seen its city centre Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) extended for three years. Local authorities hope the orders, which give police additional powers to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, will curb the spike in offences committed in the area. During our recent visit to the city, locals spoke of children as young as nine-years-old raiding shops, drunken men acting aggressively on the streets, and vandals spray-painting public buildings.
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« It’s got worse and worse in the last three years, » Laura Kavaliauskaite tells the Daily Express. « I see a lot of people drunk or high on drugs in the city centre every day. »
The 34-year-old, who lives locally, adds: « There’s been more thefts too as a result. I don’t know why. Maybe people are happy as they are and don’t need to work?
« There’s a group of youngsters who are always around the town and they’re getting more aggressive towards people. They go into shops, some as young as nine or 10 years old, swearing at people and putting up middle fingers. There’s a couple who everyone knows that steal from the shops but they get away with it. »
As of February 2026, the overall crime rate in Peterborough, which has a population of around 220,000, was 103.4 crimes per 1,000 people. This is considerably higher than the national rate of 72.
Around 38% of the reported incidents were violent crime, while 18.4% were anti-social behaviour, 7.9% criminal damage and 7.7% shoplifting. Meanwhile, the fastest-growing crime in the city is drug offences, increasing by 14.6% over the last year.
Laura Kavaliauskaite says the situation is getting worse in Peterborough (Image: Paul Marriott)
A number of shop windows are smashed throughout the city (Image: Paul Marriott)
One shop owner, who does not wish to be named for safety reasons, said he is a « prime target » for thieves in Peterborough. He wears a radio on his jumper which allows him to be in regular contact with local police and security around the city.
« The situation is really bad, » he says. « What I see every day, it’s not good for the city centre. I see it every day. I’m a prime target here. We’ve got a CCTV link and all the offenders know who I am. If you name me, they’ll know me. Someone literally graffitied on the Town Hall last night. It’s happening all the time. »
According to the trader, who has been operating in the city for decades, it’s the same offenders who cause problems in the area every day. He explains how one prolific shoplifter, who is known to every business in the city centre, recently got a banning order for her offences.
« She broke it and went back to court and do you know what her punishment was? £20 fine. Now she keeps doing what she likes, » the trader explains. « It’s the same people. Street drinkers are a big issue.
« Then they keep nicking from people just to do what they want. If you give them a six-hour banning order, there’s no police in the town to do anything about it during this time. »
The Town Hall was graffitied the night before we visited Peterborough (Image: Paul Marriott)
Police have increased their presence in the city (Image: Paul Marriott)
Cambridgeshire Police have insisted they are « committed » to tackling crime in Peterborough. As well as increasing patrols, the force told the Express they are working with business owners in the city to target offenders.
Akrur Karki, who runs the Branded Perfume market on Bridge Street, says he sees people doing drugs and drinking in public on a daily basis. Despite reporting incidents to the police, no action seems to be taken.
« We see people doing drugs and drinking on the streets here every day. We see it all the time, » he explains. « We do report incidents, but nothing happens.
« That’s frustrating. But we see police around here all the time, so I’m not sure how it’s getting worse. The police are aware of the situation as we talk to them. »
During last year’s Christmas market, thieves allegedly stole around £4,500 worth of items from his stall on Cathedral Square. Mr Karki, 42, says he has never recovered the lost money.
« I never got that back. That’s the sort of thing that kills our business and then people wonder why markets can’t survive? »
Akrur Karki lost around £4,500 worth of items to thieves at Christmas (Image: Paul Marriott)
His stall was on Cathedral Square when it was raided (Image: Paul Marriott)
‘Shops could close’ because of crime
Jederson Pires, the owner of JP Butcher in Peterborough City Market’s Food Hall on Bridge Street, says there’s been a spate of break-ins over recent times. He believes homelessness is one of the biggest issues facing in the city.
Pointing across the road at the newly rebranded TG Jones store, the 47-year-old explains: « Where WH Smith used to be, that gets targeted a lot. The kids would smash the windows and steal from there.
« There’s a lot of homeless people around here too which is affecting everyone. Not just the businesses but the locals too. It’s got worse recently and I don’t know how it’s going to get better. »
Mr Pires, who moved to Peterborough from Brazil, adds: « Our concern is that the customer doesn’t feel comfortable coming to us. And then we lose customers. That’s not what we want. Shops could close around here because of the crime. We’re getting to that point and it could happen. »
Jederson Pires regularly sees incidents from his butchers (Image: Paul Marriott)
Peterborough has two main shopping centres – Rivergate and Queensgate. The former, which was built in 1989, homes a number of independent businesses, ranging from craft shops to cafes and restaurants.
However, Rivergate has become a hotspot for crime and anti-social behaviour in recent years. Fabricio Limas, who owns Furniture Deals in the shopping centre, says his store has been blighted by a gang of youths.
« I think it’s getting worse around here. We get kids running into the store and jumping on the beds and sofas, » the 48-year-old says.
« It’s the same boys, probably aged 10 to 15, that we see that come around here. They just want to show off to their friends. It puts people off coming into the shop and this whole centre. »
Mr Limas is concerned that their repeated « nuisance » behaviour will put customers off from visiting his shop. He says they’re « hard to get out » and will often threaten him if he tries to intervene.
« I don’t know what the answer is really, » he adds. « I do report them to police and security but they’re often gone by the time they arrive. They’re a nuisance. »
Fabricio Limas says kids often come into his shop and jump on the furniture (Image: Paul Marriott)
Public Space Protection Orders have been extended until 2029 (Image: Paul Marriott)
Located opposite Furniture Deals is clothing store Profile. According to a number of locals we spoke with during our visit to Peterborough, the shop has been one of the worst-affected in the area.
The store has reported a number of thefts, particularly by teenagers, as well as anti-social behaviour and abuse. Mohammed Nazim, the owner of Profile, says there is a growing mindset among the offenders that they can « get away with anything ».
The 56-year-old says: « We’ve had a lot of issues here with a lot of kids. Everyone in Peterborough will tell you it’s getting worse. We get it every day and we see the kids walking past. Some days they come into our shop and take things.
« They feel like they can do anything. They do what they want and nothing happens. This area is probably the worst for it. They come here and take some clothes, some shoes and do what they want. It feels like they have no rules. »
Mr Nazim also notes a fall in footfall as a result of the increasing crime. He believes shoppers are becoming increasingly reluctant to visit the city centre due to issues.
Rivergate shopping centre has become a hotbed for crime and anti-social behaviour (Image: Paul Marriott)
‘Kids can get away with a lot now’
As we walk through Rivergate and towards Asda, the smell of marijuana becomes potent. There are groups of young men, dressed in all black, huddling in groups in the courtyard area between the shopping centre and the supermarket.
We head for Henry Penn Walk, a secluded path on the bank of the River Nene, where more groups of men with their hoods up are grouped. Some were smoking marijuana while some were just lingering under the bridge connecting either side of the river.
Two elderly men, who are sitting waiting for a bus, say Peterborough has changed for the worse over recent years. They explain how the town has been plagued by a minority of offenders who believe that can get away with anything.
John Denny, a 73-year-old man who has lived in the city since 1962, explains: « They can get away with a lot now, I think. It’s changed here. Back in our day if you did wrong you’d get told and you wouldn’t do it again.
John Denny thinks children can get away with anything in Peterborough (Image: Paul Marriott)
Ronald Walsh says a minority of offenders are causing the issues (Image: Paul Marriott)
« It’s sad really to see what’s happening here. There’s lots of issues and the youth just seem to do what they want. »
His friend, Ronald Walsh, has lived in Peterborough for his whole life. The 85-year-old insists that most people in the city want the best for Peterborough but there is a group of repeat offenders determined to bring the area down.
« It’s a minority causing bad for everyone. It’s not the majority of Peterborough. Most people here are good citizens, but there are a few who can get away with anything, » he explains.
« I’ve seen it get worse over the years. You see the groups of men in town up to no good. They take from the shops and leave rubbish around. It can be intimidating. »
We spotted a group of young men under a footbridge smoking marijuana (Image: Paul Marriott)
Cambridgeshire Police Detective Chief Inspector Chris O’Brien, said: « We are committed to tackling crime and associated anti-social behaviour in Peterborough and we are conscious of the increase in reports of certain crimes, including retail theft. We are working with partners and the business community to target shoplifting suspects and provide reassurance.
« For repeat offenders we are applying for criminal behaviour orders, preventing them from entering areas where they have previously committed crime. The formation of the spree offender team has increased the number of positive outcomes for retail crime and is testament to this ongoing good work.
« We are also working closely with retailers to encourage reporting so that we get a true picture of the number of offences and can take action. This has contributed to an increase in reporting.
“With regards to the other crimes raised, including vandalism, these are a continual focus for local officers, with regular routine patrols to mitigate any such offences.
“We take all reports of crime seriously and continue to work tirelessly to keep Peterborough as safe as possible for residents by protecting victims and bringing criminals before the courts. We encourage residents to continue to report any concerns to us.”
Peterborough City Council have been approached for comment.
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