Frustrated residents concerned over 'lack of police patrols' following recent stabbings

Concerns about the lack of police presence on and around Stapleton Road in the wake of recent stabbings was one of they key issues raised by residents during a meeting this week. The gathering was organised by the Avon and Somerset Police team for Easton for the local community in the wake of recent stabbings in the area.

During the meeting, residents repeatedly complained to the police panel about the issue of drug dealing on their doorstep, often in daylight on a daily basis, but that nothing seems to be done about it. They said they were frustrated over a “lack of police presence” in the area, and also a “lack of action taken by the police despite them constantly reporting crime and anti-social behaviour”.

Chief Inspector for East Bristol and force lead for stop and search Vicks Hayward-Melen, who chaired the meeting, made several promises to residents about action the force would take. This included the deployment of additional officers to ensure there were visible patrols along Stapleton Road. And she promised to hold community meetings every month on a Tuesday evening until the situation improves.

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One resident who has lived in Clifton Place her entire life, echoed the concerns raised by others when she spoke of drug dealing in her back garden and her lack of trust in the promises made by the police. Addressing the Easton policing team, she said: “With all due respect to each of your job titles, none of you live on Stapleton Road, Clifton Place or the surrounding streets.

“You all make promises, you all say what you think is going to pacify us. They are in my garden. If myself, or my children or my husband took action against them, you lot would not think twice to arrest me.

“Last year my neighbour told me about five drug dealers trying to search their garden because they couldn't remember where they hid it.” Another person present at the meeting added: “It’s like the wild west. It’s shocking.”

One mother at the meeting said: “In the past five years everytime I leave my house I see drug dealing and drug taking and I don’t understand why we keep being sent online forms. One time I was reporting drug dealing here in a telephone booth on Stapleton Road and I was asked, ‘how do you know they are dealing drugs?’

“Why are there still telephone booths around - they serve two purposes - drug dealing and toilets? They should all be removed. I am terrified to let my children run around and go to the corner shop on Stapleton Road because I’m scared they are going to step on needles.”

Another resident spoke about places along Stapleton Road where people can be seen buying and selling drugs. A business owner with a pub in Old Market spoke of seeing children selling drugs to homeless people each morning and a series of robberies that had impacted the independent businesses in this year alone.

“We are struggling to keep our businesses afloat, the residents are struggling to live where they live. I have staff who generally lock up on their own but they’re not comfortable locking up on their own anymore because of what’s going on,” he added.

A local headteacher spoke about children in her primary school witnessing stabbings and spending her time removing needles from the school playground and moving on drug dealers herself because she said the police were not present in the area. She aded: "We are forgotten about. We see drug dealing on the corner of school."

In addition to issues relating to drug dealing, residents and local business owners raised concerns over the amount of rubbish on the streets, illegally-parked cars and a rise in the number of sex workers seen outside a primary school and sheltered accommodation. “Warwick Road, outside the school, the primary school, outside the elderly people’s residents the prostitutes line it up, the punters draw up in broad daylight.

“You guys don’t turn up, you guys drive past and when we report it, nothing changes. The girls are out there from 7am, battered, they’re sick, they need help,” added the resident who said she has lived in Easton for over 50 years.

Others expressed their sympathy with the policing team, and the difficulty they have as a result of funding cuts. While others felt that the closure of Trinity Road Police Station had led to an increase in crime.

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Concerns were also raised over school exclusions and the lack of support for young people left to roam the streets. While one person spoke about children who just simply wanted to play in the park having to share that space with local drug dealers.

Addressing the meeting, Chief Inspector Hayward-Melen, said: “I know I need to earn your trust and I haven’t got that yet, I’m not going to ask you to trust me that there are things happening in the background that I cannot talk about but I can assure you that I will be here every Tuesday, once a month until people say that it’s got better.

“In the summer our demand goes up, we have the Easton beat team ring fenced so they will be out. By the end of the summer you will know who all your PCSOs are and you will know who all your PCs are.

“You will know them by name, you will be able to recognise them and they will be able to recognise you. You will see them and you will know them because they will be out on the street, that one you can absolutely hold me to.”

She said that additional police would be on patrol in Easton from other areas to fill the gaps in the local team, and would include police on horses and police who carry firearms.