I visited Lodge Causeway and met with local business owners this morning with Hillfields ward councillors, Craig and Ellie for Hillfields, the ward beat officer and a PCSO, the Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Shelford, and Abdi, who’s shadowing me for the day.

This follows concerns being raised with me by shopkeepers and local residents about anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in this area, which is primarily a result of drug and alcohol misuse.

It was good to discuss options with the Commissioner and officers about how the area could be better policed and action taken. However, the police will only prioritise this for action if problems are reported to them. They’ve only had 4 reports of anti-social behaviour in the area in the last two months, when anecdotally we are aware of many more incidents than this which are not being reported, some of which are very serious.

The officers will carry out engagement activities with Crimestoppers through leafletting and posters in the area, and I’d encourage everyone who witnesses illegal activity to please report it to the Police. You can do this by phone on 101 (or 999 if an emergency), or online here, or going to Fishponds Police Station, which is open Wednesday and Thursday between 10-1.30 and 2.15-6).

You can also make an anonymous report to CrimeStoppers

Ultimately, we need to see more support going to vulnerable people with drug and alcohol addiction issues, and this is an issue I will continue to raise on a national level.