REPRESENTATIVES from the police, Bridgwater Town Council and businesses met this week to discuss how anti-social behaviour is impacting the town centre and its shops.

Attendees were given the opportunity to discuss what they saw as the issues for the town centre and raise any concerns.

According to data from the national website for policing in England, there were 51 reported incidents of anti-social behaviour in the town in just May alone, with data not currently available for June and July.

Some of the incidents reports in the town centre by your Somerset Leveller since May 2024 include a 14-year old girl being charged with a disorder after she assaulted police officers, and an appeal for information after jewellery, watches and cash was stolen from Bridgwater market.

READ MORE: Charges brought following disorder in Bridgwater

READ MORE: Appeal after jewellery, watches and cash stolen from Bridgwater market

The BBC reported today (July 19) that shopkeepers are intimidated by young people who ride their bikes through the town centre with masks covering their faces, and that adults are drinking and taking drugs in broad daylight.

Website CrimeRate lists Bridgwater as the most dangerous medium-sized town in Somerset, and is among the top 10 most dangerous overall out of Somerset’s 414 towns, villages, and cities.

Anti-social hotspots as reported in May 2024 Picture: police.uk

CrimeRate combines open data from the police, social media signals and Freedom of Information Requests to build the most complete catalogue of crime and safety information.

Bridgwater Town Council says that it is committed to create a town that people want to visit and spend time in and that it wants people “to feel safe” when visiting Bridgwater town centre.

A spokesperson said: “We are always looking at ways to develop and improve Bridgwater town centre to make it a place people want to visit, work and invest in.

“We take the matters raised very seriously.”

The council says it will continue to work with partners to find solutions to the issues raised at the meeting with businesses and police earlier this week.

It also says that it is attempting to improve the area in the town centre by maintaining flower baskets and containers, keeping the streets clean and making sure litter bins are emptied regularly.