Street flower sellers accused of organised pick-pocketing racket

Street flower sellers have been accused of being part of an organised pick-pocketing racket in Glasgow.

A nightclub director has warned people are being distracted and robbed by thieves when they come out of venues in the city.

Brain Fulton, director of Holdfast Entertainment Group, which owns the Cathouse Rock Club and the Garage, said: “We get real issues between 3am and 4am in the morning.

“The flower sellers come up and distract people. Their pockets are picked.”

He added: “People are coming out from an environment where it is dark with flashing lights and music into the street. At that point they are getting preyed on by these people. It seems to be gangs – bunches of people.”

Fulton raised the issue at last week’s Glasgow City Council licensing board meeting.

He said door staff have been highlighting the issue and have been making efforts to move on suspected offenders.

Board chair councillor Matt Kerr asked a police inspector to investigate the “pickpocketing issues.” Inspector Gareth Griffiths confirmed action would be taken to look into the matter.

Labour councillor Kerr said it was “useful” to know about the issue and said the pickpocketing was news to him.

Earlier in the meeting, Fulton told the licensing board the later 4am closure time for clubs is “a better way of doing things” and helps avoid massive queues at cloakrooms.

He pointed out the extra hour of opening meant instead of everyone leaving venues at once there is a “general drift” from premises.

By Sarah Hilley, Local Democracy reporter