Satvir Kaur MP has met with Donna Jones, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, to discuss residents’ concerns about drug-related crime and antisocial behaviour in Inner Avenue and the London Road area.
The meeting on Friday followed an invitation from the MP, who has been working with residents, police, Southampton City Council and local organisations to address these issues. A planned walkabout was changed to a sit-down meeting due to the yellow weather warning.
The Southampton Test MP organised a residents’ meeting in July after receiving a petition signed by more than 50 local people calling for urgent action. The meeting brought residents together with neighbourhood police, ward councillors, council officers and the YMCA to discuss concerns and agree next steps.
Following that meeting, the MP wrote to the Commissioner asking her to review local policing resources and help make reporting incidents to the police and council simpler and more joined up.
Friday’s discussion – also attended by Cllr Toqeer Kataria, Bevois Ward Councillor and Cabinet Member for Communities, Safety and Leisure, alongside residents Risha Joshi and Kash Chand – focused on the problems affecting local families and businesses, action already underway and the further support needed from police. Satvir will hold a follow-up residents’ meeting later this year to review progress.
Satvir Kaur MP said:
“Today, I hosted this meeting to ensure we get more police resources and action for Inner Avenue. I’m pleased that our collective efforts mean there is now an extra Bobby on the streets for this area, with plans being explored to have a dedicated community safety officer too.
“We also are making it easier to report what is happening on the ground, so that offenders can be targeted and dealt with more effectively. This, alongside an audit of the area which has already been undertaken by police, to see how we ‘design out’ problems to help prevent them in future.
“Special thanks to local residents Kash and Risha for being such passionate advocates for their community. I am pleased we were listened to and more is being done as a result of our efforts. I’ll continue to work with partners to ensure these commitments translate into lasting improvements.”
Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, said:
“There has been a really complex issue of drug taking and anti-social behaviour in the Inner Avenue area.
“It was inspiring to hear today from residents and the action they are taking with proactive groups including neighbourhood watch, the gathering of intelligence and reporting to police.
“We are already adding an extra Local Bobby to this part of the city, to increase police visibility and awareness, and to reduce crime.
“I’m also happy to work with the residents, with Southampton Test MP Satvir Kaur and Southampton City Council to get on top of these criminal issues with a multi-agency plan to improve the area.
“I will also share funding to provide a community safety officer to further raise the intelligence going into police and will be looking into other ways we can help people living and working in this area.”
Councillor Toqeer Kataria, Bevois Ward Councillor and Cabinet Member for Communities, Safety and Leisure, said:
“Residents have been raising concerns about antisocial behaviour and drug-related crime in the Inner Avenue area for some time, and Bevois councillors have been working closely with them and local partners to address these issues.
“I welcome the opportunity to meet with the Police and Crime Commissioner today to discuss residents’ concerns, review work already underway and identify where further support is needed.
“While residents have reported improvements in some locations, there is still much more to do. I remain committed to working with everyone to take practical action, tackle antisocial behaviour and make this area safer.”
Risha Joshi, an Inner Avenue resident, said:
“When Kash and I moved to Inner Avenue last year, we felt disconnected from the local community. It’s been heartwarming to see a simple WhatsApp group bring residents together, give them a voice and inspire positive change, with the MP’s support. It shows what’s possible when people share a desire to make things better.
“A huge thank you to everyone helping to make Inner Avenue a wonderful place to live.”