Police winning fight against vandals in Mangotsfield

Residents in Mangotsfield say problems with vandalism in the area have improved but more needs to be done.

It follows calls from Julie Lake for better policing in the area after she was convicted of assault and criminal damage when she confronted youths she believed had vandalised a war memorial opposite St James Place.

Many residents and business owners in the area wanted to talk to the Bristol Evening Post about the problems but did not want to be named for fear of reprisals.

A resident who lives near the war memorial, but did not want to identify himself, said: "There was a problem with vandalism. Kids would regularly ride through the flowerbeds on their bikes.

"Sometimes there would be 30 youths gathered in the area throwing their litter from the takeaway on the floor, using the memorial as a toilet and leaving their bikes in the pathway blocking people walking through. I've been sworn and shouted at plenty of times.

"Once my wife leaned out the window at night because she heard noise. She didn't say anything to them but when she went back inside one of them ripped up flowers and soil from the ground and posted it through the letter box.

"We've called the police but sometimes they take a long time to come. And, of course, people don't feel that they can say anything to the youngsters because they can see where you live.

"One woman from the street moved out because they were causing her so much trouble. Since the case with Julie Lake it hasn't been too bad and there's hardly anyone hanging around there."

One business owner said: "There is an entrance at the back of my shop and kids are always hanging around and throwing stones. I have spoken to the police about it but what can they do? They can't patrol the place 24 hours a day. They should go into the schools and talk to the kids and that might make them think twice about it."

Another man who lives near the memorial said: "There was a problem year after year with youths gathering until late at night, being noisy and for some people it was intimidating.

"There has been no problem at all in the last six months. You still get a few children sat on the benches but it's nothing compared to what it was. I sympathise with the police because they just haven't got the resources and they can't be in two places at once."

Sophie Holbrook, who owns Rosina May Flowers opposite the memorial, said: "There are children around that area but there are never normally any problems. The police have come to break them up before when there have been too many.

"They are a bit noisy but that's it really. I've never had any problems with them."

In an interview with the Evening Post acting Chief Inspector of the district, Simon Ellis, said: "We acknowledge there's a problem in the area and we're reacting in a proportionate manner. What we've to date is a street briefing where officers go into the area and promote it beforehand to give local people a chance to come out and talk to local officers about the issues affecting them.

"In October 2007 we drafted a problem profile and developed a report that will involve more long-term solutions such as higher visibility patrols of the area and sending officers into schools to talk to children.

"If there are a lot of people that are concerned or have issues we'd encourage them to get in contact with us and bring them to our attention because unless these issues are reported then it's not easy for us to identify a problem."