The antisocial behaviour hot spot where drug deals take place outside school in broad daylight
“Police won’t come unless someone threatens to stab us,” was how a resident at a public meeting described the rising levels of anti-social behaviour (ASB), linked to street drinking and drug use in an area of Bristol. A public meeting, on Saturday, October 26, at the Tobacco Factory, saw two dozen residents meet with councillors and members of the police force to discuss their concerns over issues of ASB.
Concerns were raised about ASB in the Southville area in June when the Aldi North Street bus stop experienced issues with street drinking. Whilst Avon and Somerset Police said more patrols were being carried out, ASB issues remained and began to grow.
The meeting was attended by both Southville councillors, Cllr Tony Dyer (Leader of the Council, Green Party) and Cllr Christine Townsend (Green Party), two police officers and representatives of the community developers team at Bristol City Council. It is understood around 200 letters were sent out to houses located within the area.
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Cllr Dyer started the meeting by apologising to the residents of Southville and Ashton Gate for the delay in holding the meeting. A resident spoke to Bristol Live earlier this month about the attempts to organise a meeting with the councillors, saying the council had “let us down”.
Cllr Dyer said: “We apologise that it took so long to organise this. There has been a considerable increase in ASB, particularly around the Ashton Gate Primary School and on North Street and Back Road.
“Residents have raised the issue of drug-dealing, which includes the use of crack cocaine and cannabis. We worry that the issue is being displaced rather than resolved.
“Back Lane is unlit which means that ASB is happening outside. Drug-dealing is happening in broad daylight and our concern is it is moving into residential areas as well.”
When asked by a resident what the answer would be to help reduce the drug use and street drinking that has impacted residents, Cllr Dyer said: “I don’t know what the solution is, that’s why we are all here to find an answer.”
Cllr Townsend pointed to work which was undertaken to reduce ASB on East Street, particularly around Warden Road, which was a hot spot for fly-tipping and ASB. She said: “Warden Road was problematic as the waste area was being fly-tipped everyday.
“Because it was reported, we are able to put in construction to take the bins off pavement and make it a better street to walk down. Reporting from residents is our ask in order to resolve the issues of ASB.”
Residents "shocked" as level of drug dealing exposed
The residents at the public meeting shared their concerns with police action. One resident said: “The police won’t come unless someone threatens to stab us,” whilst another resident spoke about the impact on Ashton Gate Primary School, adding: “I see drug-dealing and drug-taking at 9.30am outside the school, it’s a big problem.”
It was warned that cuckooing (using the houses of exploited vulnerable people) was evident in Southville, which shocked residents at the meeting within the Tobacco Factory. One resident said: “I was shocked to learn just how serious the drug problem is in Southville.”
PC Andrews said that the policing team around Southville and Bedminster were undertaking plain-clothed patrols in order to prevent drug use and ASB. He said: “Officers, including myself, are coming in on our days off to undertake hidden patrols.”
Residents queried why the police are taking hidden patrols, arguing that visible, uniformed patrols would make more difference. PC Andrews responded: “We want to keep our patrols secret in order to get results.”
The police confirmed that dispersion notices were being issued which had a wider remit of powers. This now includes begging, which residents noted was frequent around Aldi on North Street.
PC Andrews added: “The welfare of those who are vulnerable is our priority. We are encouraging residents to report, report, report. The more reports we get, the more resources that can be allocated to Southville.”
The police also confirmed that it is looking into a number of potential solutions in order to reduce ASB and the impact it has on vulnerable people who residents say are being “exploited”. This includes introducing a no-drinking zone around Southville, including outside Aldi, and dealing with support services who may have fallen short of their duty of care.
PC Andrews added: “We looked at taking away the bus seat on the bus stop outside Aldi. However, FirstBus wouldn’t do it.”
Cllr Dyer told residents that action will be taken and that further meetings will be taking place over the following two weeks, with Second Step, MP Karin Smyth and the Police and Crime Commissioner. An update will be sent out on Friday, November 10 according to the councillor.
Cllr Dyer added: “This meeting was hastily arranged but the next meeting will be bigger and include more people. We will advertise the meeting better and ensure that we can find solutions for the long-term.”
Speaking after the meeting ended, residents were left hopeful but apprehensive over whether changes will be made. One resident told Bristol Live: “Let’s just wait and see what will happen and whether Cllr Dyer will deliver.”
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