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A stunning seaside city is hiding a dark secret.

Brightonis often hailed as one of modern Britain's success stories with stunning Victorian architectureand thriving businesses, butExpress reporter Adam Toms found one detail from hisvisit troubling. Here's his full account...

Ah, Brighton. Many would call it the crown jewel of the UK's south coast. The city is frequently celebrated as one of modern Britain's great achievements - a contemporary destination that hasn't lost touch with its historic character and heritage, home to a welcoming and diverse community. Despite having ventured down from London to Hove several times to watch cricket at the County Ground with mates, I'd never actually set foot in Brighton itself.

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I was bracing myself for a rather dreary destination with its glory days firmly behind it and a questionable future looming. That's typically what I encounter when visiting seaside towns for work.

Brighton proved to be a delightful surprise. This became clear straight away when I stepped off at the railway station, which was truly magnificent - a genuine early Victorian gem. I couldn't help but gaze up at the ceiling, and simply had to snap a picture.

Wandering through the nearby streets, I discovered remarkable examples of the city's rich history, from centuries-old townhouses to the breathtaking Royal Pavilion, whose construction started in 1787 and was finished across three phases. And naturally, the pier is impossible to miss.

But sitting alongside these nostalgic landmarks are what appear to be thriving businesses lining remarkably upmarket shopping streets. Strolling through some of them, I was put in mind of places renowned for their flourishing high streets, such as Norwich or York or, in the realm of fiction, Diagon Alley.

The city clearly benefits from prosperous summers, as holidaymakers descend to soak up the sunshine on the beach. But I wasn't anticipating so many establishments to be bustling with customers in the dead of winter on a grey, chilly day.

I made a mental note to come back and spend a proper day out in Brighton before long. However, I wasn't there merely for sightseeing, and made my way to St James's Street near the seafront to chat with residents about reported crime and anti-social behaviour in the vicinity.

They're evidently enduring a dreadful situation, and the moment I arrived, I spotted two PCSOs popping in and out of the street's shops talking to business owners, which is precisely what I proceeded to do. What I heard was bleak. Shoplifters operate with impunity and don't fear being arrested, people yell, brawl and deal drugs brazenly in the street.

Even tourists are singled out as prime mugging targets, I was informed. This situation has been ongoing for some time, and locals believe it's due to the concentration of bed and breakfasts and hostels housing vulnerable individuals with substance abuse issues in the area.

However, one sight nearly made me retch - what was almost certainly human excrement next to a bin outside the local Co-op. There's something deeply unsettling about such public defecation. It's like a scene from 'The American Werewolf in Brighton'. I was reminded of Jeff Goldblum's line as Dr Ian Malcolm in Jurassic Park upon seeing a pile of triceratops dung.

How is this being tolerated in Britain in 2026? The police station is just a few streets away, a fact repeatedly emphasised by exasperated residents. Sussex Police highlighted in a statement they provided to the Express that 30 year old Aji Sinera is set to be sentenced on February 13 following the robbery of a vulnerable man in October. This is all well and good, but it doesn't address the root of the problem.

As long as you have lots of people with problems housed in one area who are clearly not receiving enough assistance, a crucial part of this story, the horrible things described to me are going to keep happening.