The troubled UK city plagued by drugs | UK | News

Just outside Bradford’s glittering City of Culture booking office lies a man slumped on the stairs, unconscious from what is believed to be the drug known as spice. For Councilor Rebecca Poulsen, it’s a scene that sums up the disturbing contrast in the heart of the city: “People literally had to walk over them to get in,” she told the Express. “It’s very disturbing for visitors to come into the town centre. We’ve encountered people completely comatose outside the venue where Bradford’s transformation was to be showcased.”

Bradford may be proudly celebrating its UK City of Culture year with fresh flower beds, pedestrianized squares and shiny new seating areas, but residents and officials acknowledge that serious social problems remain behind the regeneration, particularly drug use and antisocial behavior in the city centre.

Few people have followed the changes over the years more closely than Simon Cope, 64, who has lived in Bradford all his life and now works as a cleaner in the city.

“It wasn’t this bad before,” he says. “More jobs have disappeared and people’s incomes are low, so they turn to drugs. At night you can always see users wandering around or sleeping on the streets. It’s sad to see that.”

He believes that reduced employment opportunities and visible poverty leave deep scars. “Not everyone in a difficult situation uses drugs,” he adds. “There was one kid I talked to who was a rough sleeper and he had a college degree. But now it’s worse than ever.”

Safety is the biggest concern for Shumaila Murthza, who has lived in Bradford for eight years.

“There are some areas with a high crime rate, and I don’t know what drug users often do on the streets,” he says, walking downtown with his young son. “I don’t feel safe here at night and I stay away whenever I can. I don’t feel safe letting my son walk around alone, even if he’s older.”

Her comments echo those of other parents who told the Express they plan their routes carefully, especially after dark.

While Bradford clearly has its challenges, not everyone agrees that the city is in decline.

Elizabeth Lephard, 47, an NHS worker who lives just outside the city, says she has seen a noticeable improvement in recent years.

“I think it’s a very beautiful place,” he says. “We’re City of Culture this year and you can really see the effort the council has put into improving the look of the place. Bradford has a bad reputation, but it has beautiful countryside not far from here.”

According to Councilwoman Rebecca Poulsen, the problem isn’t what the city looks like, it’s what’s going on inside it.

“The city center looks very nice now, lots of green spaces and pedestrianized streets,” he says. “But drugs remain a real problem. You could be sitting in a nice new parkland on your lunch break and there are people in a coma on the bench next to you. That’s not a pretty look.”

Poverty continues to cause problems, he says, explaining: “Bradford’s poverty index is very high, especially in the city centre. Income levels are low and it’s not easy to find high quality jobs. There’s a huge skills problem, it all feeds into that.”

Cllr Poulsen also raises concerns about the rise of illegal e-scooters, which are banned from use on public roads but are often seen speeding in the City Park. “They are dangerous and scary. I had to physically stand in front of them to stop them,” he says.

Local councilor and Green Party group leader Matt Edwards says the problems are not unique to Bradford but are more visible here.

“Drug and alcohol addiction are the main reasons why people stay away from the city centre,” he explains. “Some of this is related to homelessness, some of it is related to other problems, but we know that this is a barrier, as in every big city.

“What makes it feel worse in Bradford is that the city center is quieter. You see similar things in Leeds or Manchester, but there are so many footsteps it’s less noticeable. Here, the few people in distress stand out more.”

Major Edwards blames the city’s current crisis on austerity and years of cuts to local government funding. “Ultimately, it comes down to a lot of things. [but] “Most of it is based on the austerity policies during the coalition government period,” he says.

“Millions of people have been removed from local councils and support for the most vulnerable has been cut. Adult social care budgets have been cut, so people with high needs but unable to meet the statutory threshold have fallen off the cliff.

“The same goes for the police, with fewer officers on the ground and funding for charities and support services being cut.”

Noreen Akhtar, Bradford Council’s assistant manager for neighborhoods and communities, defends the authority’s record, saying drug and alcohol problems are treated as public health issues rather than simply policing issues.

“Bradford is not unusual when it comes to drug addiction,” he says. “These are vulnerable individuals who need long-term support. Addiction can result from years of trauma and is not easy to break.”

Akhtar says the council’s Drug and Alcohol Partnership works closely with community groups and healthcare providers to support people, whether they want to enter formal treatment or just need day-to-day help. “The goal is to support people, not isolate them,” he says.

He adds that the city has seen a “very proactive increase in policing of the city center” in recent months and has invested heavily in improved lighting and safety plans, particularly for women and girls.

“We are working with West Yorkshire Mayor and the police on initiatives that will make the city center feel both safe and secure,” he says. “This includes better lighting, more visible policing and educational programs in schools and colleges.”

One such initiative, Jog On, has won awards for protecting female runners. “We used undercover police officers and vehicles to stop and deal with people who were harassing or threatening women out for a run,” Akhtar explains.

Despite public concern, some residents say the problem looks worse than it is.

Shaz J, 25, who has lived in Bradford for ten years, says: “Yes, there are a lot of drug users around, but I don’t think they are any more of a problem than in any other city. They keep to themselves and are often unconscious. I don’t feel safe around them but I understand why others might.”

The picture that emerges from Bradford is of a city with two faces: a place with a rich cultural heritage and ambitious regeneration, yet marred by poverty and public drug abuse that continues to tarnish its reputation.

Becoming the UK’s City of Culture could help change perceptions. But for now, the sights outside the booking office, where visitors are forced to walk over the city’s most vulnerable parts, remain a disturbing reminder of the work that still needs to be done.