Reported crime in Glastonbury has risen by 40 per cent since April 2023, with county councillor Ewan Cameron warning the problem is "not simply perception".

Cameron, who was elected in October, said tackling anti-social behaviour was one of his key manifesto pledges after residents repeatedly raised concerns with him.

"So many people talk to me about antisocial behaviour, and I was voted in in October with one of my manifesto items being to tackle ASB," he said.

"I've started by looking into the issues and underlying causes."

'This isn't simply perception'

Cameron said police figures show a "40 per cent increase in reported crime in Glastonbury since April 2023".

"If you look at the figures as the police do, in terms of reported crime per 100,000 people, it has the highest level of reported crime in the county – twice that of Street, and even twice that of bigger towns like Yeovil," he said.

"Obviously there are also a number of unreported crimes to consider, too.

"So we can factually say that there is a problem, this isn't simply public perception, it's lived experiences."

advertisement

The councillor also said his partner was assaulted in broad daylight in Glastonbury High Street, with the case currently "going through the system".

"I have asked to speak to Inspector Rachel Clarke, three times, who has not responded," he said.

"I have been on patrol with the neighbourhood team in Glastonbury. I attended community drop ins, in the church and the soup kitchen, trying to understand the complexity of the community."

Push for new powers

Cameron said efforts are under way to reinstate a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Glastonbury to help tackle anti-social behaviour.

"We are trying to get a PSPO reinstated, but this is not an easy process and it takes time," he said.

"This has been compounded by a number of other towns asking for similar PSPOs, and that the county council are now considering a county-wide PSPO, rather than having to submit five or six individually."

He added that business owners in the town centre say the ideal time for a PSPO to be in place would be before Beltane, when visitor numbers increase.

"We're also waiting for evidence from the police, which hasn't been provided yet, which will strengthen the position with regards to the PSPO."

Church impact and community response

Concerns about anti-social behaviour have also affected St John's Church, which has been closed for much of the past year outside services and organised events.

Rev Alice Watson, Vicar of St John's and St Ben's, has said drinking and drug taking in the churchyard and porch "remains a problem" and is "not ok" in what she describes as holy ground.

The church is now appealing for volunteers to help reopen the building more regularly. If enough people come forward, organisers hope to host café sessions, concerts, coffee mornings and weekend openings as part of plans to bring more community activity back into the building and its grounds.

No timeline has been confirmed for further measures in the churchyard, including possible CCTV or landscaping changes.

Town council backs PSPO approach

Glastonbury Town Council said by-laws have been discussed by councillors as a possible way to help reduce anti-social behaviour.

However, the council said that while it has the legal power to create by-laws, any such measure would only be effective if it could be properly enforced. Local authority by-laws are normally enforced by the authority that introduces them, and Glastonbury Town Council does not currently have the internal capacity to enforce new by-laws itself.

The council said a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) would be a more effective and modern mechanism because it can be enforced by police, adding that it will continue to push for a PSPO as its preferred route to tackle anti-social behaviour in the town.

Police response

Neighbourhood inspector Rachel Clarke said: "We are in consultation with Somerset Council about a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), and Glastonbury and its associated issues of Anti-Social Behaviour remains our focus on a day-to-day basis.

"We work closely with response officers when incidents are reported to us, and more people are contacting us about their concerns, which we encourage and welcome.

"We continue to carry out high visibility patrols, liaise, and maintain contact with local businesses, organisations, and other stakeholders to understand what their priorities are, and Glastonbury High Street will always be an area of focus, but we also need to manage expectations and demands from other areas.

"It is important we strike the right balance, but we urge the public to continue to report incidents to us so we can continue to develop our understanding of the scale of the problem so we know where we need to invest our resources, which will lead to an overall increase in the detection of crime.

"We rely on people reporting crimes to us, understand the impact Anti-Social Behaviour can have on our communities, and we remain committed to making Glastonbury a safer place to live, work and visit."

More local stories

• Somerset pothole claims hit 1100 as drivers paid £93k
• What's On: Carers meet-up offers support and conversation in Street

Subscribe to the free Glastonbury Nub News newsletter Get the biggest Glastonbury stories straight to your inbox.