Southmead – setting the record straight
The Panorama programme about the Southmead estate has prompted Bristol City Council, the Police, Safer Bristol and the people of Southmead to set the record straight.
Inspector Mark Runacres who has responsibility for Southmead said, “We believe this documentary is an unfair portrayal of Southmead and the vast majority of people that live there.”
“Of course any incidence of racism is totally unacceptable and we always deal with it robustly but we want to make it absolutely clear that this documentary only concentrates on a small handful of individuals from the Southmead area. The Police and other agencies are already aware of who these individuals are and we are actively working with a majority of them to confront and tackle their problems.”
The agencies have been working hard together with the local community in Southmead for a long time to create cohesion in the community and to tackle anti-social behaviour, and have already had some good successes in the area.
Councillor Gary Hopkins said, “A great deal of work has gone on by agencies and local residents to improve the safety and quality of life of everyone, whatever their age or race, living in Southmead. Whilst we know we still have more to do in the area the programme did not reflect this in anyway.”
The work ongoing in Southmead incorporates a range of projects including the youth club, youth projects in the local schools such as ‘Play your Part’ (which promotes good citizenship to year 8 pupils), community cohesion groups and celebrations of different religious groups held at the Greenway centre to promote understanding of different cultures.
In addition, the agencies are working closely to tackle any anti-social behaviour on the estate using a range of measures such as the Family Intervention Project (which helps families tackle and resolve their problems), and the launch of Operation Staysafe last month where young people who are deemed to be at risk on the streets at night are taken to a place of safety by the police and their parents informed of their whereabouts.
Inspector Mark Runacres said, “Finally it’s important to stress to families living in the area that they are safe. Despite the impression that Panorama may have given Southmead does not have a disproportionately higher incidence of race hate crimes than other areas in Bristol or indeed across the UK.”
“However, if anyone is the subject of racist abuse we urge them to contact the police immediately on 999. We will come down hard on anyone who commits race crimes in Southmead or anywhere else Bristol.”
The next Southmead PACT meeting is being held on Thursday 22nd October at 6.30pm at Wigton Crescent United Reform church. Any residents wishing to express their concerns or to suggest ways of tackling the issues raised in the Panorama documentary are invited to attend this meeting.
