Businesses across Ipswich are hoping an increased police presence will help shoppers feel safer when coming into the town centre.
In a bid to make residents feel more secure, Suffolk Constabulary has upped the number of patrols across the town and appointed a new community engagement officer to increase visibility.
The measures come after 18-year-old Raymond James Quigley was stabbed to death in the Westgate Street on Tuesday, January 17.
"You want to feel safe in your own town," said Ben Stamp of Cookie Barista in the Microshops.
"For the first 10 days after the incident last month, it was definitely a lot quieter. People were clearly avoiding the town centre.
"I'm a father and my son and daughter work in Ipswich. It's very worrying.
"But I think having a greater police presence helps people to feel safer so it's something I welcome and encourage."
Zoe Cutting, owner of popular Museum Street bar and restaurant Arlingtons, also welcomed the news.
"As a business owner in the town centre, we don't want people not coming in because they feel unsafe," she said.
"Having more police on the streets will help to make people feel reassured that it is safe to come into Ipswich at night."
Andrew Bavington-Barber is director of the Hot Sausage Company which occupies a number of sites - including on the Cornhill, just metres from where the most recent stabbing took place.
"There is so much footfall and activity in the town centre that there needs to be a real police presence," he said.
"It's very reassuring to see these measures, particularly the community engagement officer.
"We have had a lot of comments from customers about the need for a continued visibility and I agree.
"In my opinion, that's what has been lacking."
Terry Baxter, chair of Ipswich Central, said the Westgate Street incident "will reinforce the preconception that Ipswich is not a safe place to visit".
"Not only is this a personal tragedy for all those involved, but it has a direct and severe impact on our town and the businesses within it. The businesses surrounding the incident will have been closed whilst the police investigate, which will inevitably affect their trade."
The tragedy saw customers running inside shops "scared and shaken".
One employee from H.Samuel, Marcus, was on shift the day of the incident.
He recalled: "I was at the front shop window putting some stock away, and thankfully didn't see the actual incident.
"I did see, however, a lot of running, which is quite normal for children, but from adults, I thought it was really strange.
"Then a couple of witnesses came running into the store very scared, shaken and shocked and asked if we could shut the shutters and stay inside the store.
"It was then that we called the police, along with so many others and within what felt like 20 seconds, they were outside the store.
"Some customers have said that it is scary, I haven't been stabbed in the many years I have worked here, but the fact that this sort of thing happened, in broad daylight on a Tuesday, in the middle of a high street, can put you on edge."
The incident saw a number of shops in Westgate Street close for 24 hours while a police cordon was in place.
Since then, traders and community leaders have called for measures to make the town safer, including more effective CCTV and an increased police presence.
"We must work with our colleagues in the police and the County Council to ensure we maintain a visible police presence," said leader of the Borough Council, David Ellesmere.
"This is essential for providing reassurance and ensuring everyone is safe."
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