Restaurateur warmed by support following assault

Muhammed Islam was cut near his eye

A restaurateur from West Sussex says he feels "much, much better" after receiving "love, solidarity and respect" from the community after he was reportedly assaulted.

On 19 May there was a disturbance at The Passage to India in Barnham where Muhammed Islam was reportedly assaulted and cut near his eye, with the restaurant also being damaged.

He said the behaviour showed a lack of respect and was "extremely unacceptable".

Following the incident the 64-year-old, who has run the restaurant for 35 years, said he received a number of cards from customers.

Three teenagers have been arrested and bailed in connection with the incident.

Dispersal orders

The village was so worried about an increase in anti-social behaviour that a public meeting was held, which was attended by more than 200 people.

On Thursday, Sussex Police put a dispersal order in place following reports of anti-social behaviour during the half-term break and at the railway station.

The 48-hour order was authorised to begin at 18:00 BST, which gave police the power to remove individuals from an area if they were engaging in anti-social behaviour.

They would then face further action if they returned to the area within a specified period.

Mr Islam received a number of cards from the community

A dispersal order was also put in place for 48 hours on 31 March following another "incident of disorder" at the railway station where members of the public, including security staff and officers, were assaulted, police said.

In February, Operation Precinct was launched by police in response to a rise in youth crime and anti-social behaviour in the Barnham and Yapton areas.

The force said it would increase patrols and officers would work with Arun District Council and the Safer Arun Partnership to provide additional security officer patrols to disrupt and deter crime.