Police say anti-social behaviour (ASB) by youths at the Willow Brook Centre and elsewhere in the Stokes has returned to “normal” levels after two ring leaders were issued with behaviour contracts.
The news was first revealed at a meeting of the Stoke Gifford Community Engagement Forum on 28th June 2023 where an attendee said residents had expressed concerns about a “group of kids wearing balaclavas” who had been involved in incidents at Willow Brook Centre and at Little Stoke Community Centre.
Responding, PC Craig Doyle told the meeting that police had “managed to identify this particular group and used ASB legislation, working proactively”, adding:
“There were three ring leaders who encouraged other youths to group together. Two members have now been identified, been given ASB injunctions which we can act upon if they breach them. They weren’t from local area and incidents have now reduced considerably.”
The matter was also raised a week later at the Bradley Stoke Community Engagement Forum on 4th July 2023, where Cllr Keith Cranney asked PCSO Adam Ali of the Bradley Stoke beat team:
“Perhaps you can tell us the situation with ASB at the Willow Brook Centre?”
To which PCSO Ali replied:
“There is crime but just normal for the Bradley Stoke area. Nothing I am overly concerned about. There was an increase in ASB at the Willow Brook Centre between 3/4 May. We have managed to identify two youths and have dealt with them. Since then, ASB has reduced significantly back to where it should be, perhaps 1/2 incidents on average.”
Cllr Cranney then went on say:
“Obviously there is ASB occurring in the area, some of which relates to youths wearing ski masks and balaclavas. Have you identified some of these youths and what action is being taken to curtail this to prevent it being copied by others?
To which PCSO Ali answered:
“There is a large group of youths involved in this, but we have identified the main leaders who have been issued with Anti-Social Behaviour Contracts. ASB has now gone back down again back to average figures. Regarding ski masks etc. we would previously have been able to stop and search but things have moved on and we now need a reason to stop them, and it is not an offence to wear a ski mask. We know who they are but unfortunately, we need to wait for them to commit a crime.”
A little later in the meeting, in relation to a question about e-scooter misuse, PCSO Ali revealed that there would be no members of the neighbourhood policing team covering the Bradley Stoke beat area that evening.
“… to be perfectly honest, after this meeting I am [working] in Filton and there is no-one else. Our two beat managers are on Operation Hibiscus (summer demand) and covering central Bristol.”
Councillors were critical of the Bradley Stoke beat team for not providing the meeting with a formal report on quarterly crime statistics, as has been done in the past.
According to its webpage, the Bradley Stoke beat team consists of two neighbourhood constables (PCs) and two PCSOs, under the supervision of a neighbourhood sergeant.
The webpage includes a form through which messages can be sent to the team. Note: This form should not be used to report a crime. You can report a crime online or call 101 (for non-emergencies) or 999 (for emergencies).
Related links
- Bradley Stoke, Stoke Lodge and The Common Community Engagement Forum (Bradley Stoke Journal)
- Stoke Gifford, Stoke Park and Cheswick Community Engagement Forum (Stoke Gifford Journal)
