THE soaring cost of crime could force an Evesham businessman to leave the area.

Joe Davin, who employs about a dozen people at his company, Joe Diver, on the Four Pools Industrial Estate, says he is seriously considering moving his business away from the Vale.

He says the increasing level of petty theft and vandalism is forcing insurance premiums ever upwards.

"What I'm seriously considering now is whether I relocate and move the business out of the area."

Mr Davin became so concerned about the vandalism that he and other firms on the estate called in security firms to see if night patrols could be arranged, but Mr Davin said: "The prices are just astronomical. You are looking at costs of £600 to £800 just for a weekend's cover. I, as a small business, can't afford that sort of money."

He added: "I'm pretty despondent about it all. In areas like this people just don't seem to want to know and won't accept that it has got its fair share of problems and out-of-control youngsters."

"If you have an 11-year-old telling you where to go and throwing bricks at you, a few years ago he would get a clip round the ear, but you can't do that," he said.

He also had harsh words for Wychavon District Council, saying: "You can't get anybody on the council to take a real responsibility or ownership."

Yet Alan Paul, Wychavon's safety co-ordinator, said action was being taken. "We encourage businesses to get together with the police and local councils to take a cost-effective approach to business crime. This approach is included in the new crime and disorder plan soon to be produced."

Sergeant Paul Crumpton, of Evesham Police, said: "Since November 1 nine crimes have been recorded for the Four Pools Industrial Estate Area.

"The police do patrol the area and offenders are caught and dealt with in line with the law and human rights. Options available to the police are not always in line with public opinion."