Issued on behalf of the leaders of the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative groups, Cllr Maggie Tyrrell, Cllr Ian Boulton and Cllr Samuel Bromiley
“We have been appalled to see the violent and hate-fuelled disorder that has taken place in Bristol and across the country over the past few days.
“We stand together against violence, racism and hatred in all its forms. There is no place for it in a civilised society and it will not be tolerated here. We all deserve to feel safe and to live without fear and we will support our local police in using the full force of the law to deal with anyone found to be involved in these events.
“We are proud of our diverse communities and how they enrich life here. We recognise the value in constructive and respectful discussion and debate. We support people’s rights to share their views and to protest however it must always be conducted peacefully, respectfully and within the letter of the law.
“We recognise that these events may lead to fear and unease for some of our residents and we want to reassure all communities in South Gloucestershire that we continue to work closely with police and other agencies and would fully support their efforts to tackle any incidents immediately and robustly.
“Information on how to report a hate crime and details of sources of support can be found on our website.
“We ask everyone to take care of themselves and others around them and to continue to act in ways which represent the welcoming, tolerant and inclusive community spirit that exists throughout South Gloucestershire.”
