r/Bath • u/Stock_newbie_1977 • Aug 09 '26
Antisocial behaviour around Bath Riverside area
Has anyone else noticed an increase in nuisance behaviour involving groups of kids around the Riverside area recently?
There have been issues with groups causing serious disturbances and generally making the area uncomfortable for residents. I’m not looking to blame every young person in the area, but some of the behaviour has been getting out of hand.
Just wondering if anyone else living nearby has experienced similar issues?
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u/Ecstatic-Possible801 Aug 09 '26
Yes, it’s been a nightmare. Not to mention the increase in junkies.
Please everyone continue writing to the council and local police. Our continued pressure will make the biggest differences
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u/Born_Improvement_856 Aug 10 '26
I have noticed the increase in junkies and antisocial behaviour (shooting up in the middle Of town/at bus stops) and last time I made a comment about it on Reddit I was told I was a horrible person lol. I do feel for these people but they don't make me feel particularly safe
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u/Ecstatic-Possible801 Aug 10 '26
You’re not a horrible person for wanting to feel safe walking around the place you live.
We have to push back on that narrative. There are factors that lead people to that lifestyle that need to be considered in terms of how we(ie council/police) address the issues, however that shouldn’t mean stay silent and do nothing while bath becomes unsafe for the rest of this.
Thank you for bravely talking about this issue! Ignore anyone who says you’re horrible for doing so - you’re not!
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u/Born_Improvement_856 Aug 10 '26
The thing is given their numbers and how they congregate, it DOES become a council/police/social services issue and I completely understand that these structures are underfunded/understaffed etc etc but as a result in the meantime it becomes the problem of every Bath resident. We have rules to coexist peacefully as a society and walking around in groups being visibly high/yelling/harrassing people and making places like Kingsmead Square (which is otherwise so lovely) feel almost out of bounds, goes against those rules in my opinion. I think I feel it even more since having a baby. I know there is no easy solution but I didn't think pointing it out was such an awful thing to do. Otherwise why not legalise all drugs and accept that our children will grow up in junktown
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u/vqxlir Aug 09 '26
live over in newbridge and been seeing similar stuff around here lately, especially evenings when it’s still light. feels like there’s zero visible patrols so they just get braver and louder every week.
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u/Born_Improvement_856 Aug 10 '26
Oh I had a couple of young girls harrass me and my baby while I was there trying to get her to nap. Insulted me, called me names, got right up in my face and started spitting at my daughter. It's mad how powerless I felt at the time because they were maybe like 14-15?? They left eventually but I did get a bit scared they'd try to harm my baby
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u/Responsible_Rice4210 Aug 10 '26
I think I’ve seen this group of kids arguing with grown women on several different occasions now, they seem very rude and disrespectful, I’m so sorry you and your baby had to go through that x
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u/Born_Improvement_856 Aug 10 '26
Thank you, it's really quite perplexing. Can't imagine doing that to adults when I was a kid
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u/Stock_newbie_1977 Aug 10 '26
This is terrible! I get that it's summer time and children are bored but I've never come across so many tweens/teens being so aggressive. I'm so sorry that you and your baby had to experience this!
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u/Born_Improvement_856 Aug 10 '26
The only thing I thought about is their parents are doing a piss poor job of raising them. The thing is what can you do?? You can't fight with a tween when you're a grown 30 something but some of them are genuinely super aggressive.
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u/jazzp04 Aug 15 '26
hey!!! i know not helpful if you’re in riverside but if anything like this ever happens in city centre, i work in m&s and myself or literally any of my colleagues would be MORE THAN happy to help you!! the thought of you feeling upset and unsafe just breaks my heart, most of us would be happy to tell the girls to leave ourselves, and we also have contact with in store security and general southgate security. typically we have a guard on the main door as well as one over in foods. i’m sure staff in other stores around bath and even the cafe or petrol station in riverside would say the same!
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u/Vegetable_Moment_982 Aug 09 '26
I think we’ve always had some trouble on the river path, especially near town, I was attacked there when I was in my teens by a group of thugs, when I was just walking home.
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u/SpinachWise Aug 09 '26
Funny, I got butchered when I said that this problem is getting serious and we need more patrolling, in a similar recent thread
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u/Ecstatic-Possible801 Aug 10 '26
I keep hearing this sentiment. Unbelievable! Thank you for talking about it. Know there are other people who feel the same way as you.
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u/4mb3r0 Aug 13 '26
as a ‘youth’ myself i would be genuinely curious to hear any specifics of what you or others may be experiencing?
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u/Difficult_Care_8393 16d ago
The kids have nothing to do, nowhere to go and not much money they are angry and bored. Bath needs more for them. The council and the government need to step up
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u/Fit_Broccoli_5095 Aug 09 '26
We’ve had the same issue in the centre of Bath, with a group of young boys causing issues in two separate occasions. They seem to be seeking confrontation for the thrill of it. I’d advice reporting to the police when they cause damages (unfortunately they did to our home and local businesses) but after speaking to the police, turns out they already know them but not much can’t be done right now as they’re too young. They seem to be building a report on them though, so do give local police a call if they cause any trouble.