Arrests have happened across the neighbourhood – from Brunswick Cemetery to Bishop Street, with officers seizing Class A drugs, weapons, and even a sword. One man has already been jailed for more than four years.
00:00There's growing concerns in the heart of Bristol, as long-time residents of St Paul's say that drug crime and violence have reached what one local father calls crisis level.
00:11Sam, who moved to Bristol from Somalia as a child, described a terrifying shift in a community he once saw as a vibrant and close-knit one.
00:22He claims that dealers are openly controlling public spaces, while families feel exposed to daily trauma, drug use and violence.
00:31And he says that police are nowhere to be seen.
00:34But Avon and Somerset Police insist that's not the case.
00:39They've said that more than 30 people have been arrested this year alone for drug supply offences in East Bristol, 24 of them charged.
00:49Arrests have appeared across the neighbourhoods, from Brunswick Cemetery to Bishop Street, with officers seizing Class A drugs, weapons and even a sword.
01:01One man has already been jailed for more than four years.
01:06The force says uniformed and plaincloth patrols are happening regularly, even if they're not always visible to the general public.
01:15And more neighbourhood officers are on the way.
01:17But this father and others have been calling for more enforcement.
01:22They want long-term investment, safe spaces for children and a visible presence on the streets, not just reactive raids.
01:31Police say that they're working with schools, churches and youth organisations.
01:36As Bristol heads into the summer season, the pressure is on for action.
01:41The residents can not only feel, but finally see.
