A BUSINESS owner from Bradford’s top-of-town wants planners to call time on a conservation shutter ruling, following a spate of crimes.

Aris Mehmood, who runs Smorgasbord Coffee Bar in Rawson Place, had his shop broken into at the weekend, with three individuals making off with the till, breaking the bar and smashing the front door.

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CCTV footage (below) shows two of the individuals smash the front door of the shop with their feet, before a third member joins them to take the till from behind the bar.

Police are investigating the burglary which occurred at about 1:40am on Saturday, November 17.

A police spokesperson said: "A 36-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident, but was later released without charge."

Mr Mehmood said: “This is a menace, it’s the eighth time we’ve been broken into since opening in 2007.”

This incident has set the business owner back just under £1000 in order to board and then replace the glass in the shop door.

But, Mr Mehmood added this hasn't been the only cost over the years.

He said: "When we started, insurance cost about £400 a year, but it's jumped up to £800 a year now as it's deemed a risky place."

The business owner, who was originally going to set up in Leeds but chose Bradford because of the support available, feels him and others are being let-down by the authorities.

Mr Mehmood said: "The problem we’re having is there’s no deterrents, no fear, and it leave us to deal with the stress, inconvenience and costs – who do you go to?"

He sympathises with police and the lack of resources available, but feels the CPS should be doing more.

He said: "Officers saw the video (CCTV) and they said, oh my God, I know him. They identified one of them and said he was known to police.

"24 hours later, I got a call to tell me he'd been released because there's not enough evidence - I thought, what do you mean? He's got the same clothes on, the same shoes."

Mr Mehmood is also calling for an end to the ruling from council planners, that prohibits external shutters on businesses in City Centre Conservation Area and certain listed buildings, which he describes as “inconsistent.”

He said: "The main problem is the planning department - they're so strict and wouldn't move from their position. I want shutters but they keep throwing the 'Grade II' listed at me."

Policy BH5 of Bradford Council's Legislation and Council Policies Relating to Conservation Areas states: "External roller shutters will not be granted permission on a listed building shop front unless there is clear evidence of an original shutter housing and the shutter is traditionally detailed and in timber and/or metal of a traditional section."

Smorgasbord is based in a Grade II listed building, but Mr Mehmood said several businesses in the local vicinity have metal shutters on the exterior of their shopfronts.

He said: “The next building outside, it has shutters outside. I want to lobby the council now, I’ve just had enough. They’re so detached from reality and the needs for businesses.

“I know it will cost thousands to implement but it’s paramount, so I can sleep at night.”

He added: "Why can’t the council just relax the laws. I’ll put shutters there however they want, just let us have them."

A separate section of the council's legislation states: "Shutters will generally only be permitted inside the display window or in traditional timber form."

But, Mr Mehmood said: “Having them inside is futile, it defeats the point because they can still destroy the exterior.”

He added: "Would you rather have an empty shop or shutters on a night time to protect? Are you going to look at them and say, I'm not going to go into that business?

"We're paying our rates, VATs, taxes. For a small business, we're doing something, it's not easy. All I want is for them to understand our needs. If they stop butting in, we can do things."

Mr Mehmood has visions of creating a continental style atmosphere, with an evening presence and facilities outside.

But, he said what's most important is being able to arrange suitable security for the coffee shop.

Enquiries are continuing into the latest incident anyone who can assist with information is asked to call the Bradford West Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101, quoting crime reference 13180576967, or use the live chat facility on the West Yorkshire Police website.

Information can also be reported anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.