Workers at Marketown, a shopping centre in Newcastle, are sounding the alarm over a surge in antisocial behaviour, harassment, and violence that they encounter almost daily. This heightened concern follows a recent incident where an 18-year-old man was hospitalised after being stabbed in the Marketown West car park on Sunday morning, with the assailant still at large as of Monday afternoon.
Danielle Veness, a six-year employee at Just Cuts, expressed her worries about the increasing frequency of these incidents. “I see it if not daily, at least every second day, someone coming through that’s either yelling at someone or off their head on drugs,” she remarked. Veness recounted several troubling episodes, including a fight involving young individuals inside her shop and an aggressive customer chasing a staff member from a nearby store.
Another local business owner, Khalil Sidi, who manages Newcastle Barber, shared his own experiences. He described instances of disrespectful behaviour and noted that their shop has been broken into twice. “One time we came in and someone had put glue in our door lock so we couldn’t get in,” Sidi said, emphasizing the unpredictability of safety in the area.
The retail union, the Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association, echoed these concerns. David Bliss, the Newcastle secretary for the union, stated, “The recent stabbing incident at Marketown Shopping Centre is alarming and highlights genuine concerns about safety for retail and fast-food workers and shoppers.” He pointed out that this is part of a broader trend of increasing violence and antisocial behaviour affecting shopping centres across Newcastle and surrounding regions.
Despite these alarming reports, some workers feel relatively secure inside the shopping centre. Vivian Nguyen, who owns Golden Nails at Marketown East, mentioned that while antisocial behaviour occurs frequently, she has grown accustomed to it. “It happens pretty often; we are across from Woolies, so shoplifting and theft happen almost every day,” Nguyen said. She noted that the recent stabbing did not come as a surprise given the erratic behaviour she has observed in the area.
Concerns have also been raised about the effectiveness of security measures. A shop owner in Marketown West, who preferred to remain anonymous, reported harassment from teenagers and incidents that deterred employees from staying. “I thought it happened only to me, but I heard it had happened to other shop owners as well,” they stated.
The owners of Marketown, Region Group, have stated that they are collaborating closely with NSW Police following the stabbing incident. A spokesperson for Region Group confirmed the implementation of a comprehensive security program, including extensive CCTV coverage and a dedicated on-site security team. They also mentioned their ongoing participation in local safety forums to stay aligned with community safety initiatives.
In response to the growing concerns, a spokesperson for NSW Police highlighted their commitment to reducing antisocial behaviour in the area. “Part of this strategy includes regular high-visibility patrols of the area and ongoing liaison with local community members, businesses, and agencies to address concerns and keep the community safe,” the spokesperson said. They encouraged residents to report suspicious activities to local authorities or call the Police Assistance Line.
As these incidents continue to unfold, the urgency for effective measures to protect both workers and shoppers at Marketown remains critical. The community is calling for enhanced security and support, as no one should feel unsafe while doing their job or out shopping.
