Great Yarmouth residents are asking the crime commissioner to improve security

BBC An aerial view of Great Yarmouth coastline. The view shows the Marina Centre, a large blue building "Marina Center" in large white letters on one side. To the right is the beach and to the left is a mix of retail buildings, hotels and residential buildings. — People in Great Yarmouth say shoplifting has become a major problem and can be “intimidating”.

Residents of a coastal town have called on a county's police and crime commission (PCC) to take action to make them feel safer.

People in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, told the BBC they feared violence and feared retail crime was getting worse.

Sarah Taylor, Norfolk PCC and Labor councilor at Breckland Council, said she was “distressed to hear this”. Chancellor's budget on October 30th This could determine how local policing was funded.

In August, Norfolk Police Chief Paul Sanford said needed more money to counteract changing trends in crime.

Amy Newey says she feels “pretty safe” in the city and has confidence in the police

Andrew Turner/BBC Amy Newey smiles directly into the camera. She has long black hair and is wearing a blue hoodie. It is near Poundland in Great Yarmouth, where there are orange pedestrian barriers on the road due to earthworks. — Amy Newey says she feels “pretty safe” in the city and has confidence in the police

Amy Newey, 18, from Great Yarmouth, said: “I feel pretty safe in Great Yarmouth because I know there are lots of people to help me, like the police, my friends and my family.”

“I'm aware of crimes, like a few stabbings we had in Yarmouth recently and all the thieves.”

“[The police] are there to help with all of this.”

David Cowling and his wife Frances say they would not visit Great Yarmouth at night

Andrew Turner/BBC David Cowling stands next to his wife Frances Cowling, 79. Both look directly into the camera and smile. Both have gray hair. He is wearing a black fleece jacket, a blue collared polo shirt and a red jersey. She wears a taupe fleece top, a pink necklace, and a pink knit top. He has his hand on her left shoulder. They took photos outside on a shopping street. — David Cowling and his wife Frances say they would not visit Great Yarmouth at night

Frances Cowling, 79, and her husband David, 85, from Ormesby St Margaret, Norfolk, said while they felt safe in their home village, they felt less safe in Great Yarmouth.

“Definitely [it is worse now]” said Ms. Cowling.

“There seem to be senseless stabbings that people didn’t seem to do before.”

Mr Cowling said he would like to see a greater police presence in cities.

“I feel very safe in our village, but people in the cities are so mixed these days that we don't like coming to the city,” he added.

“There’s no way we would come in at night.”

Jane Hare wants to see more police officers on the streets of Great Yarmouth

Andrew Turner/BBC Jane Hare is photographed standing outside the British Heart Foundation shop, which had a red sign with white writing on it. She is wearing an olive green quilted jacket and a matching knit top. She wears a black bag strap over her right shoulder and has shoulder-length light brown hair. Other people walk nearby around them. — Jane Hare wants to see more police officers on the streets of Great Yarmouth

Jane Hare, 65, from Great Yarmouth, works in a charity shop and said theft was common.

“We have a lot of problems with shoplifting, but we don't call the police because we think they won't do anything,” she said.

“It’s intimidating and I get angry; really angry because we can’t do anything about it and it’s getting worse.”

“I think we should have more patrols in the city.”

Dawn Henney has lived in Great Yarmouth for more than 40 years

Andrew Turner/BBC Dawn Henney wears prescription sunglasses, a knitted Arran-style jersey and a green parka jacket with a faux fur-lined hood. It stands in Great Yarmouth's market square, where other people walk or cycle past. — Dawn Henney has lived in Great Yarmouth for more than 40 years

Dawn Henney, 64, said crime rates in Great Yarmouth had worsened over the years.

“I don’t feel safe in Norfolk. I don’t go out after dark, not even to walk my dog,” she added.

“I find [police] should focus on betting more [officers] on the ground. It's too much [crime]; People are being attacked, knife crime, pickpocketing, things like that.

“I think they should send some ex-soldiers out on the streets to help them.

“I don’t mind paying more taxes to feel safer.”