City centre businesses divided over whether Glasgow is a 'no-go zone'

# Where this debate started Recent headlines and a BBC documentary put Glasgow city centre safety under public scrutiny. Stories focused on violent incidents filmed over the summer and resulted in a dispersal zone being applied to several streets. That coverage prompted Glasgow Live to ask people who work in the area whether they think the city centre has become a "no-go zone." The answers vary by business, location and personal experience.

Several people working in and around central shopping and nightlife areas gave mixed assessments.

• The manager of the Corner Bar on Hope Street said trouble generally happens outside and rarely inside the pub. He said he does not feel unsafe running the business and that the city still has a caring atmosphere. He noted differences in footfall when football events were not taking place.

• Toki Mart on St Enoch Square reported frequent shoplifting and chaotic scenes at times, including incidents in an alley behind the shop. The owner said things improved after last December and into early 2026, and that the dispersal zone has helped.

• A shopworker on Union Street said weekend incidents are visible but overall the area feels safe and that media hype can exaggerate the problem. They also praised the dispersal zone for making the area safer.

Not all feedback was reassured. Sew Easy, a shop on Mitchell Street run for 25 years, described a sharper decline in customer numbers linked to safety worries. The owner reported thefts — including stolen charity boxes — and said groups of young people and drug use have become more aggressive, particularly between Four Corners and St Enoch Square. He said customers are scared to come into the city centre and called for more police presence and uniformed guards.

# What people want

• More visible enforcement: several traders asked for increased police patrols or uniformed guards to deter thefts and anti-social behaviour.

• Sustained local measures: those who saw improvements credited the dispersal zone with reducing incidents and want it maintained or extended as needed.

# How coverage shaped perceptions The BBC documentary prompted strong reactions. Some business owners and workers said the programme accurately reflected the summer's violent incidents. Others said such coverage creates a one-sided public impression that exaggerates the level of danger and deters visitors.

# Where things stand

# Short takeaway Glasgow city centre is not universally described as a "no-go zone" by those who work there, but concerns persist in parts of the centre. Views depend on location, recent incidents, and how businesses and staff experience crime and anti-social behaviour day to day.