European city centre drinkers may be sent home
Out-of-work EU nationals caught drinking in Bristol city centre in the daytime could be sent home after police targeted the area this week.
This is the first time an operation of its kind has been run in Bristol and only the third time one has been run in the UK.
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Police operation targeted drinkers in the Bear Pit who were found to be from EU countries
Earlier this week officers in Bristol mounted the joint one-day operation with the UK Borders Agency (UKBA) to target the EU nationals after complaints had been received from shoppers about them being drunk and intimidating.
The six people, who were served notices by UKBA, will have to attend immigration appointments at Bridewell Police Station.
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If they are unable to prove that they are either working or actively-seeking work they will be sent back to their county of origin in the next month.
PC Jeanette Cadden said: "We decided to run this operation because we'd been receiving a lot of complaints from members of the public and local businesses about people hanging round in the Bear-Pit drinking alcohol all day and committing thefts and general anti-social behaviour.
"The Bear Pit is right next to one of Bristol's main shopping areas and shoppers have told us it can be really intimidating to have to walk though the area when there are people there who are drunk and behaving badly.
"When we started to look closely at the people who were causing problems in the area we quickly realised that a number of these people were non-British nationals from other European countries who were out of work and spending their days drinking on the streets."
Following some specialist Immigration law training PC Cadden realised it was possible to remove EU nationals from the country under these circumstances and contacted the UK Borders Agency to arrange the operation.
PC Cadden said: "Bristol is a rich and culturally diverse city where we welcome people from all over the world. However, the tiny minority of people who come here and cause problems are less welcome and we will seek to remove them in operations such as this one."
Comments
by JonahM
Monday, November 26 2012, 9:55AM
“hi bartonhillbum, if you do know the facts perhaps you could share them with us? With sources preferably so we can check that it is not just someone else's erroneous beliefs. I don't know the truth, don't believe what the papers peddle either.
More people should write to their MP and MEPs, it is worth the bother, their ideal is passive cynicism on our part. Put "who is my MP / MEP" into your favourite search engine and it should show you a site that will check from your post code. You have 5 MEPs (don't ask why) so pester them all.
Remember, the only wasted vote is an unused vote, "spoiling" your ballot paper by not making your support for one candidate clear is not a waste, it is a protest (but be polite).”
by Rosbs
Monday, November 26 2012, 1:17AM
“i agree with you jimbo747 alot of the brits are not much better at least they are doing in their own country. Unfortunately the drink culture here is diabolical but we shouldn`t have to put up with foreigners doing it here.
Behave or go home i say”
by bartonhillbum
Sunday, November 25 2012, 4:39PM
“by georges1974Sunday, November 25 2012, 7:27AM
"get off the benefit bandwagon, they can't even claim unless they have paid tax for 6 months."
You are so wrong georges1974Sunday. If you do not know the facts why bother.”
by georges1974
Sunday, November 25 2012, 7:27AM
“get off the benefit bandwagon, they can't even claim unless they have paid tax for 6 months.”
by jimbo747
Sunday, November 25 2012, 5:53AM
“So...Can we depart the UK nationals that drink in the streets too? I know countless hard working EU nationals who don't drink, yet know many more UK nationals that tear up my street every weekend after too much to drink.”
by jimbo747
Sunday, November 25 2012, 5:47AM
“So...Can we depart the UK nationals that drink in the streets too? I know countless hard working EU nationals who don't drink, yet know many more UK nationals that tear up my street every weekend after too much to drink.”
by bifta66
Sunday, November 25 2012, 1:08AM
“I'm an EU national, born and bred in the UK, currently living in Bristol.
This is a fantastic idea. I have a night out in Bristol and enjoy a few drinks and when I want to go home I simply hang around in the Bear Pit and the police will give me a lift.
No more taxi fares. Thanks local government!”
by Rosbs
Saturday, November 24 2012, 11:06PM
“the best solution is if you can`t find work within six months - sorry but you have to go back home. Bye
I agree with all of you and tomcribb”
by Frenchayvoice
Saturday, November 24 2012, 10:33PM
“why give them the chance to turn up to the immigration appointments, send them straight home as surely they will just not turn up and continue doing what they are doing but just somewhere else.”
by Gazzabristol
Saturday, November 24 2012, 6:39PM
“@bartonhillbum
The gullible UK gold plates every crazy policy that comes out of Europe.
Other countries are not that stupid. The French for example just ignore them - and fair play to them for having the sense to look after their own interests whilst our government sells us out.”