Police spend £5,000 on flowers to deter criminals

The display in Bristol, used as a deterrent to miscreants and petty criminals, is believed to be the first time flowers have been used to combat crime

Sue Mountstevens, the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, visits the flower garden in St Andrews park in Bristol, which is designed to help stop crime
Sue Mountstevens, the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, visits the flower garden in St Andrews park in Bristol, which is designed to help stop crime Credit: Photo: David Hedges SWNS.com

Police have spent £5,000 on a community flower garden in an attempt to combat anti-social behaviour, prompting a mixed response from the public.

The scheme to use a floral display as a deterrent to miscreants and petty criminals in the St Andrew’s Park area of Bristol has received financial backing from Avon and Somerset Police and is already said to have had a “remarkable effect”.

Devised by the Friends of St Andrew’s Park community group, it is thought the idea is the first of its kind in the country.

Juliana Hounsfield, a resident, said: “The effect has been absolutely extraordinary.

“It’s changed my life, everyone is taking pictures of the flowers, little children run through them, adults sit amongst them peacefully, no one can believe how beautiful it has become in short space of time.”

But some question the wisdom of the £5,000 expenditure. Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “There could be a temptation to spend even more taxpayers’ cash on it, but it’s crucial that as much money as possible is spent on visible and available policing in local areas.”