‘Proactive patrols’ are ongoing as well as community outreach operations
bristolpost Administrator
08:00, 19 Jun 2025
Police in St Pauls
Police have sought to reassure a Bristol community after claims drug crime and violence have escalated to “crisis” level.
In an emotional opinion piece, a dad who grew up in St Pauls said he fears “dealers are controlling our streets again” yet he feels there is “almost no” visible police presence.
He said when he moved from Somalia he found St Pauls to be a “vibrant, close-knit community” where he always felt safe, but he now feels there has been a “terrifying shift”.
In response, Avon and Somerset Police said the policing of the drugs market across east Bristol, including in St Pauls, “remains an operational priority” and the neighbourhood team will expand with more staff “very soon”.
The force said so far this year, more than 30 people have been arrested for drugs supply offences in the area and 24 of them have been charged. It said “proactive patrols” are ongoing, though sometimes this will not be obvious due to officers wearing plain clothes.
Police said intelligence from the local community is also “incredibly important”. One resident who contacted Bristol Live, who asked only to be named as Sam, said: “Many are too fearful to speak publicly because of threats from drug dealers and a complete lack of confidence in local policing.”
He knows of lots of people concerned about crime, drug activity and antisocial behaviour. Sam added: “This is not ‘inner city life’—it is systemic neglect.
“Children and families in these communities are exposed daily to drug use, violence, and trauma. Schools, playgrounds, and streets have become unsafe. The long‑term impact on young people is both real and irreversible.”
Sam pointed to two particular public spaces that he described as “open drug markets”. He questioned if the situation would be tolerated in more affluent areas such as Clifton or Redland, claiming St Pauls was being “overlooked”.
He referenced nine serious or fatal stabbings that have been reported on in the area since 2023, describing the situation as a “crisis”. Sam said he and others have reached out to other authorities including the council, MPs, police and crime commissioner, senior politicians and even the Prime Minister in hope of intervention.
Sam added: “We’re not saying this is solely a police matter but but unfortunately we do not see them at all and have not really seen any police presence or activity for so long it feels that the areas just getting worse and worse.”
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “Police continue to carry out targeted days of action both in uniform and in plain clothes to tackle drug crime, which affects communities across the Avon and Somerset policing area, including several areas of Bristol, including St Pauls.
“Despite recent staffing issues, the east Bristol neighbourhood teams continue their work with community, council and voluntary partners to identify drug dealing and the crime and anti-social behaviour which come with it. Colleagues from response and specialist teams are also involved in enforcement action.”
Arrests this year
Police highlighted several examples of enforcement carried out in St Pauls so far this year. According to the force, this included:
• A man arrested on Bishop Street on February 12 was charged with and admitted drugs offences concerning the supply of heroin and cocaine and breaching a slavery and trafficking risk or prevention order. He was jailed for 55 months.
• On April 10 police responded to a report of drug dealing in Brunswick Cemetery, and arrested a man. The adult – from outside the local policing area – was charged with possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply. He has since been sentenced to three years in a young offenders’ institution.
• On April 12 police seized suspected class A drugs and several knives and martial arts weapons from an address in West Grove. Officers arrested five people who remain on police bail while enquiries continue.
• A man was arrested in Grosvenor Road on April 12 and charged with possessing more than 1.7 kilograms of cannabis with intent to supply and possessing an offensive weapon (a sword) in a private place. He has appeared in court and remains in custody pending a trial later this year.
• Two young men were arrested in Portland Square on April 28 and both were charged with possessing crack cocaine and heroin with intent to supply. They’ve appeared in court and are on conditional bail pending a trial.
• Police arrested a man on May 1 in Little Bishop Street and charged him with possessing heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply; supplying crack cocaine and heroin and possessing an offensive weapon (a knuckleduster). He was released on bail by magistrates pending an appearance in Bristol Crown Court in June.
• On May 23 officers arrested a male for possessing with intent to supply class A and class B drugs in Rosa Parks Lane and he’s currently on bail.
The force also said there have been “proactive patrols” of locations including Albany Road, Brunswick Square, Grosvenor Road and Rosa Parks Lane, by officers both in uniform and in plain clothes. It also said vulnerable people, whose homes had been “taken over by drug dealers”, had been referred for support to stop them from being exploited.
Neighbourhood Sergeant Maz Collacott-Nuur said: “We see first-hand the toll drug crime and antisocial behaviour has. We aim to work with the close-knit community and other agencies so everyone who lives or works in St Pauls feels safe.
“We share the concerns about young people being drawn into crime and will look for evidence of exploitation when a young person comes to notice. We work with partners in the council and voluntary sector who can help and support vulnerable young people and our aim is always to try to keep children out of the courts.”
Sgt Collacott-Nuur said information from the community ensures police can target patrols effectively, bid for more resources and apply to courts for warrants.
‘More staff’
She added: “We’re always so grateful for any information, and of course the more detail people can give us around times, locations and descriptions of those involved in criminal activity, the more valuable the evidence is. People may not always see action immediately as we piece together the evidential picture, but we do review everything that comes in.
“The good news is that we’re getting more staff into our neighbourhood team very soon, and we’re confident those additional officers will quickly start making a difference.”
Concerns about drug dealing can be made via the force’s website, as well as via 111 or Crimestoppers anonymously. Sgt Collacott-Nuur added: “We know that people may not want to talk directly to us, because they don’t want to give evidence at court, or for other reasons.
“You can always contact the national charity Crimestoppers. They never ask who you are, they can’t trace your call and they’re completely independent of the police. You’ll be 100 per cent anonymous whether you call 0800 555 111 or go online.”
The neighbourhood team also holds ‘walk and talk’ sessions so women and girls can highlight the areas where they feel less safe, as well as ‘talk to us’ events where people can raise any concerns or seek advice. Four of these events have been held in May and June so far, most recently at Brunswick Square on June 11 where there was “positive feedback from the community that issues are improving”.
School and church visits are also part of the team’s outreach – officers visited Sefton Park School on June 3 to speak with children about the role of the police and answer questions.
‘Talk to Us’ sessions are sometimes cancelled at short notice due to operational duties, but the next ones are currently scheduled for:
- 19 June St Pauls Learning Centre midday until 1.30pm
- 30 June Brunswick Square midday until 1.30pm
- 10 July Portland Square 4pm until 5.30pm
Read the full opinion piece here