BRIDGWATER Councillors and the new Town Wardens congregated for the quarterly Bridgwater Town Council Police Forum meeting last week.

The forum serves as a platform for the public to raise issues to their local councillors which are then discussed directly with the police.

A panel of police officers are then questioned at the quarterly event, which sparks discussions of which issues need addressing in Bridgwater.

The October meeting was chaired by Councillor Tim Mander (Labour, Westover).

First on the agenda was the issue of people drinking in the street, particularly outside the local branch of Nationwide.

Cllr Mander said: "The police, together with Somerset Council, were actively looking at issuing Community Protection Notices to deter the gathering of street drinkers.

"Once again they asked that people report their concerns as they have to build a strong case to take to court."

Another issue present in the Binford Place area as of recent has been youth violence, particularly gangs of girls fighting in the street.

The issue was raised at the forum and is now subject to a separate piece of work by Sergeant Charmain Dyne which is yet to be concluded until a full report is completed.

Police at the meeting also confirmed that the use of electric scooters in Bridgwater is illegal, and only police officers have a right to confiscate them.

Local police are reportedly looking to work with large employers and schools to help advise staff or pupils against using or bringing electric scooters into the work or school.

Another issue raised by councillors was the two current hotspots for vandals looking to cause trouble; the British Legion and the old hospital site.

Four youths were recently apprehended by Police and identified by residents as being responsible for climbing onto the roof of the British Legion and throwing items into the street.

"Hopefully action will follow," Cllr Mander said.

Other issues discussed included neighbourly disputes, and rough sleepers in the area.

After the meeting, Cllr Mander said: “The exercise was useful but it’s incredibly frustrating that the same incidents and problems seem to reoccur with such frequency with the Police at times seemingly powerless to act, or react.”