'Intimidating' Youths turn newly renovated square into trouble spot

RESIDENTS and business owners in Stockwood have spoken out over a rising tide of antisocial behaviour in their community.

- Angus MCINTYRE

Neighbours say in recent months, groups of teenagers and even younger children have routinely gathered in a recently renovated square at one end of Hollway Road, the area’s main shopping street.

Locals claim youths have been causing trouble for people going about their daily business in the otherwise quiet Bristol neighbourhood to the south of the city.

Councillors have acknowledged an “uptick” in complaints and say police have secured funding to step up foot patrols. They said not all of the people involved are believed to be local, instead travelling to congregate there.

Two shop owners in the area spoke to the Post on the condition of anonymity, because they were scared about repercussions if they were identified.

“It's intimidating, because I (work) on my own,” one shopkeeper said. “You get groups of four or five of them, sometimes as many as 12 or 13.”

Some of the children involved were as young as ten, she estimated. “The young ones are just as bad as the old ones,” she said.

The young people involved appeared to realise they were at significantly less risk of consequences with the police when they were aged under 16, she said.