Recent violence in Easton is not a sign that the bad times are returning to the inner city Bristol area, police have said.

In the last few months there have seen several serious crimes – including the multiple stabbing on the Bristol to Bath cycle path this week, a police officer injured by van-driving burglars and someone being stabbed with a bottle last month.

But Avon and Somerset police say crime is falling year on year and their relationship with the community is better than ever.

A public meeting held at Easton Community Centre a week ago saw up to 100 residents raise concerns after the bottle stabbing on King Street. Four people have been arrested in connection with the attack.

Following that meeting, Labour ward Councillor Faruk Choudhury called for mobile CCTV cameras and more visible policing.

"The problem arises during the light summer evenings when youths gather in the Chelsea Road, Roman Road and Bloy Street areas," he said. "Shopkeepers, restaurant owners, people living in sheltered accommodation and other residents have either been harassed or have felt intimidated by these groups.

"I am worried that Easton could be seeing the beginnings of a gang culture and this ought to be nipped in the bud before it gets a chance to establish itself."

But the police say these incidents – and the completely unrelated cycle path attacks – are not representative. Assistant Chief Constable John Long said, for April to August, robbery is down 69 per cent on the same period last year. He pointed out that since 2007, total crime is down 46 per cent and anti-social behaviour down 22.1 per cent.

In the last month, five new CCTV cameras have been installed on Stapleton Road by Safer Bristol, taking the total to six. And police patrols have increased following the trouble in the Chelsea Road area.

"We know that there are issues that concern the community but we can show now that, over a number of years, crime is significantly reducing in the area," Mr Long said. "The concerns the councillor raised were as a result of particular incidents, but they do not paint an accurate picture of the area as a whole."

Anti-social behaviour officers for the police and council recently surveyed shopkeepers on Stapleton Road and found a generally positive response about the police and life in the area that used to have major problems with drug dealers.

Haja Hadiza, 45, a chef at Wa-Zo-Bia on Stapleton Road, said: "The community police make us feel a lot safer than we used to."

Lower Easton beat manager PC Adrian Williams said: "I do feel there has been an increase in trust and people are more willing to come forward and help us catch offenders."

Chris Smith has lived in Easton on and off for 10 years. Children no older than 15 pulled a knife on him recently, but he escaped unharmed.

The 49-year-old, of Chelsea Road, said: "Compared to a few years ago, things are better.

"Every six weeks you'll get a stabbing, but you could say that about any inner city area. There are more police on the beat tackling the symptoms of the problem, but not the underlying socio-economic issues."