Families and shoppers in a Colchester Community group are calling for more help to keep High Street bus stops safe following reports of drug use and heavy drinking. Residents shared their concerns in February 2026, stating that groups gathering at the stops could stop people from visiting the city centre if the situation is not addressed.
To help manage these issues, Colchester City Council looked at renewing a special set of rules to protect public spaces in late 2025. These rules are designed to give officials more power to stop anti-social behaviour in the city centre for a further three years.
While official figures from Essex Police showed that anti-social behaviour in the city dropped by nearly 14 per cent recently, Colchester remains a priority for extra funding. The city is one of 15 areas in the county getting a share of 1.6 million pounds to pay for more police patrols in busy spots.
These safety concerns are being raised as major work to improve the city centre, such as the St Botolph’s Circus project, moves forward in 2026. Local leaders want to ensure the area stays welcoming for families as these multi-million-pound projects to modernise the streets begin.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
