Police have been told that a trendy Brighton street has become more dangerous than parts of gangland London.

More than 100 traders and residents yesterday packed an emergency meeting called to discuss rising crime in St James Street, Kemp Town, Brighton.

Officers were accused of not doing enough to control street drinkers, aggressive beggars and violent youths who have been attacking people, damaging property and daubing graffiti.

Traders said they were having to consider selling up because crime and antisocial behaviour scared away customers and staff.

Many said they often could not be bothered to report crimes because police were typically so slow to respond.

Kim Lucas, owner of the Candy Bar, called the meeting at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church after becoming alarmed by how often staff and customers were being threatened and abused in the street.

She said: "When I came three years ago I was told St James's Street was going to be regenerated. Instead, we're struggling and may well have to close because people are staying away because of the crime."

John Anderton, of the No Name Bar, said: "My family moved down here last year because we felt threatened by the high crime levels in Wandsworth, one of the worst boroughs in south-west London.

"But since coming here, I've witnessed more crime and heard more horrific stories than I did in London. I've also seen more trouble here than when I was in Salford, at the height of the gangland culture there. It's shocked and amazed me."

Concerns centred on a perceived lack of police presence, insufficient enforcement of a public drinking ban, inadequate street lighting and poor control of people using drink and drug rehabilitation centres.

Tony Shadbolt, who works at St George's Crypyt, said: "The only time I've seen police officers round here is during Pride weekend."

A Charles Street resident said three houses had windows smashed on Monday night, while Kingscliffe Society chair Dr Janie Thomas said her husband was threatened in St James's Street.

She said: "This should not be happening to people walking along the street on a summer's evening."

David Radtke, owner of The Tin Drum which has branches in St James's Street, Hove and Seven Dials, said: "Why is it that 99.9 per cent of the problems I have to deal with are at this venue, in this area? It's definitely getting worse."

David Allan, who lives opposite The Tin Drum, said: "There are so many sickening sights here - kids charging The Tin Drum and the Parsian, or syringes hanging out of the legs of junkies by the bottle recycling banks."

Acting Chief Inspector Paul Smith said he was confident the extension of the street drinking ban across Brighton and Hove this week would lead to stronger clampdowns.

Chief Inspector Lisa Pearcey, in charge of the Brighton Central area, said: "The police cannot be the only solution to these problems."

She said other vital factors were traders selling alcohol to under-age youths or known alcoholics and the treatment of people with drug and alcohol problems.

Fears were raised about the car park near St James's House becoming a "drug-dealing den".

Kevin Jarvis, Southern operations manager for NCP, promised extra security officers would be on patrol from next Friday.