Tamil businesses are being intimidated and threatened into handing over goods by gangs from their own community.

Traders in Burlington Road, New Malden, said staff had been beaten up, property smashed and customers harassed by Tamil youths.

One trader on the street, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said the youths threatened to smash up his shop if he did not hand over several bottles of expensive alcohol.

He said: “Only the top guys come in. Some of them are in their 30s and more and more youngsters in their teens are joining.

“The peace of this area is gone. It’s my community, our own community doing it to ourselves.

“It’s very upsetting.”

It is understood Tamil and Indian restaurants were are also being targeted by groups of Tamil youths refusing to pay for their meals.

Merton police arrested a 21-year-old man of “Tamil appearance” on Thursday for an alleged attack on a family restaurant where a staff member was beaten up trying to stop youths stealing alcohol and smashing up CCTV cameras.

Another trader, who runs a newsagent in Burlington Road, said it is a problem the whole community must face.

He said: “In the evenings there are 20 to 30 kids hanging around along the street and outside the shop. They get drunk and smoke drugs; harass people who are coming in.

“Nobody wants to come to shop along here, there’s been a drop in sales and this year it’s been getting worse.

“It’s a Tamil community problem that must be dealt with.”

The Surrey Comet spoke to other businesses and community groups in New Malden – none of whom wanted to be named for fear of reprisals – who claimed they aware been targeted by youths.

We were told many members of the community have been threatened and were too scared to call the authorities, allowing the gangs to act with impunity.

Concern about tension in the Tamil community has been brought to the attention of Kingston police, who confirmed there were several incidents of theft, intimidation and harassment in Burlington Road reported by Tamil businesses.

They admitted to being aware of “ongoing issues” in the Tamil community and urged affected traders to contact the safer neighbourhood team.

Patrick Ratnaraja, a Tamil activist in south-west London, was concerned gang activity would detract from the significant contribution Tamils made to Kingston.

He said: “The Tamil community in London is a significant contributor to many aspects of British society. Last year a Tamil doctor at St George’s Hospital was knighted for his services to the medical profession.

“In most parts of Kingston the Tamils own shops and petrol garages, which show the economic contribution the Tamil make to this country.”

Kingston SNT now plans to hold a meeting next Monday with Tamil businesses and residents of Burlington Road with a view to forming a community forum.