A PROPERTY owner and his tenants have slammed the authorities for failing to deal with repeated antisocial behaviour in the town centre.

Landlord, Dharminder Sandhu and business owners at The Village Shopping Centre in Slough High Street, have criticised the police for a lack of action with rough sleepers and antisocial behaviour causing problems in and around the site on a daily basis.

After finding a man sleeping in the basement of the building and allegedly doing drugs on Thursday, February 2, Mr Sandhu claims he logged seven calls with the police throughout the evening – and was told each time that an officer would attend, but no one came. Mr Sandhu says that the police eventually said they did not feel it was necessary to attend and to report it if it happened again. He said: “The police just weren’t interested, if we are going to sort out this problem we need the support of the neighbourhood police.”

Half of the units in the shopping centre have been empty for two years and Mr Sandhu blames this on the antisocial behaviour problem.

Business owners inside The Village are also growing weary of the daily struggle and believe their takings are being affected. One shopkeeper, who did not want to be named, said: “My clients are scared. They (homeless people) sit in the corridors and sometimes fight each other. They need a place to live, it’s painful to see.”

Another business owner, who also asked not to be named, said: “They’re always there. The police come in, chuck them out and then they’re back.”

“They have nowhere to go.”

Another trader said: “It has been over a year since the problem started. We had a security guard before but now we don’t.”

The building has a caretaker but tenants believe having a security guard would solve the issue. Mr Sandhu said this option would be considered “as long as the police are helping”.

A Slough Borough Council spokesman said the council did not have the powers to move people on – but itstheir enforcement team was willing to liaise with Mr Sandhu. Thames Valley Police could not be reached for comment.