RESIDENTS in Little Stoke and Stoke Gifford have been helping the police to keep the areas where they live safe.

Since they volunteered last autumn they have identified anti-social behaviour hotspots, helped police seize alcohol from underage drinkers, identified 60 speeding vehicles and carried out community clean-ups.

Neighbourhood PC Mark Graham said: "We asked for volunteers to help tackle three issues the community had told us were their priorities – speeding, anti-social behaviour and littering.

"These people are making a real difference to their community. Making the neighbourhood safer and stronger is a team effort.

"Police work with other agencies but we need the support of locals as well."

Volunteers are vetted and trained as community wardens, who patrol in pairs to identify potential areas of anti-social behaviour, and community speed watch members, who use speed guns to carry out checks on traffic.

PC Graham said: "Information from the volunteers is helping us target our patrols more effectively to tackle community priorities.

"With just a few more volunteers we could make even more of a difference."

Anyone who wants to volunteer can call the neighbourhood team at Filton Police Station on 0845 456 7000. The next public meeting to discuss policing priorities will be held at Little Stoke Hall at 7pm on June 30.