A little known tiny road that barely warrants a second look, except for those looking for a shortcut, has been revealed as the most crime-ridden street in Norfolk.
Less than 150 feet in length, it is arguable whether William Booth Street in Norwich city centre qualifies as a road at all, perhaps more accurately described as an access and drop off point or pedestrian alleyway.
But despite its diminutive size the thoroughfare, which links Theatre Street and Hay Hill, saw the highest number of recorded crimes in the past 12 months.
There were 278 criminal offences between January and December 2022, according to Police.uk, the official site that collates crime data.
It means the small side street saw more crimes than the entire town of Acle, which saw 187 offences reported to police over the same period.
Formerly called Church Street it is named after William Booth, the English Methodist preacher who, with his wife Catherine, founded the Salvation Army.
A popular cut-through for shoppers walking between Chantry Place shopping centre, Haymarket and Gentleman’s Walk, it is wedged between the Next and Cotswold Outdoor stores and branches of McDonald's and Subway.
Crimes are reported as happening “in or near” a particular street.
William Booth Street’s city centre location likely means its figures are skewed by its proximity to shops, with police using it to respond to incidents and recording crimes at the location, despite them happening nearby.
Shoplifting was the most common offence in the last 12 months with 96 recorded incidents up to December, the most recent figures available.
Nearby Hay Hill is frequently the scene of protests, demonstrations and gatherings of youngsters.
The street's annual figures - almost four times the number of incidents reported at Castle Meadow - show there were 46 reports of anti-social behaviour and 36 public order offences, as well as 42 violent and sexual offences.
Other reported incidents included 10 muggings, seven arrests for possession of a weapon, five cases of criminal damage, four drugs offences, four break-ins, three robberies and 11 bike thefts.
Police have previously targeted the area to carry out crackdowns on aggressive beggars, shoplifters and other low-level criminals.
Shopper Chris Withey, who was walking through the street at lunchtime, said she wasn’t surprised that the route was a crime hot spot.
“I have previously seen police chasing people down here and druggies,” she said.
“My daughter was in Hay Hill the other week when two lads were threatening people with a chain, so I can believe it.”
Tony Woodhouse, who was picking up a takeaway, said: “It’s a pretty grim sort of location considering the number of people who pass through.
“I have seen people being arrested here before for shoplifting. It looked like they were removing tags from the clothes they’d stolen. It is also the sort of location where after dark you might get people doing drugs.”
But Frederico De Lomos said: “I have businesses in both Castle Quarter and Chantry Place so I walk through here often, sometimes at 5am or later at night, and I have never felt unsafe or seen a problem.
“I think Norwich city centre as a whole is very safe.”
Of the crimes reported ‘in or near’ William Booth Street in December six were violent and sexual offences, two muggings, three thefts, three public order offences and four shoplifting reports remain under investigation by police.
Three crimes are awaiting the outcome of court cases, one had been dealt with by local resolution but in 12 cases police were either unable to prosecute or have not identified a suspect.
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