The recent shooting led to schools getting locked down
A man was shot last month in Speedwell(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach Plc)
A leading police officer has apologised for a lack of community talks after the recent shooting in Speedwell. A local councillor has called for opportunities for residents in the area to raise their concerns about crime, after a shooting, fire and even a link to the recent grenade explosion.
A shooting on Speedwell Road on April 2 led to a manhunt, schools getting locked down and St Anne’s Wood being closed off for several days. A fire on Deep Pit Road then occurred on the night of April 12 and 13, at a notorious site with a chequered history including previous blazes.
The problem came up while councillors on Bristol City Council ’s public health and communities policy committee were discussing how crime figures are changing on Friday, May 1. Two days after the meeting an exploding grenade killed two people in Frenchay, with Avon and Somerset Police then searching a flat in Speedwell linked to the suspected murder-suicide.
Green Councillor Ed Fraser, who represents the Eastville ward, said: “I spoke to the neighbourhood policing team about the [shooting], and was told that it wouldn’t be possible to have any kind of community meeting following that incident, so that people would have an opportunity to air their concerns and grievances around the risks of violent crime in the area.
“Which I was particularly surprised by, given the history of violent crime in that neighbourhood in years gone by, which I’m sure nobody wants to see any kind of return to. Instead what I was referred to was a series of community surgeries, mainly in Fishponds and Hillfields. The first one in the community isn’t until the end of this month, so around eight weeks after that first incident.”
Wednesday, April 1: Police cordon in place around the entirety of St Anne’s Wood following a shooting in Speedwell(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach PLC)
He called for reassurance for residents that the incidents were isolated, and also “appropriate forums” for people to raise ongoing issues with the police. Speedwell has a history of problems, for example with derelict buildings used as industrial-scale cannabis farms.
Superintendent Deepak Kenth, who chairs the Bristol Community Safety Partnership, said: “Thankfully we don’t have firearm discharges in the city that often. Although it’s really concerning, obviously it’s still a live investigation. Within 12 hours of that happening, we had the suspect in custody.
“There was a large police response to try and bring normality back to that area as quickly as possible. We were able to charge and remand an individual, so they will subsequently be appearing in court in the future, as well as other people.”
He added that the police would “definitely want to provide reassurance” following the shooting. An acute response unit coordinated work with the council and South Gloucestershire Council, including “the aftercare”, although the superintendent did not elaborate on what this involved.
He said: “I can only apologise that it hasn’t happened the way you would expect in our community. We might not be able to talk about that investigation, because of those criminal justice processes taking place, but we can certainly have those wider conversations on concerns.”
Local PCSOs are hosting two “talk to us” events in Speedwell on Wednesday May 20 at Barton Hill Rugby Club on Duncombe Lane and Wednesday May 27 at Crofter Coffee on Crofts End Road. These will give residents an opportunity to get advice, receive information about police work in the area, and raise concerns about issues in the community.