New police data has revealed the Somerset neighbourhoods where residents are most likely to encounter threatening behaviour, street fights and public disturbances – and towns across Mendip are among the worst affected.

Figures from Avon and Somerset Police show that Frome North West recorded 183 public order offences in 2024 – the highest number in the Mendip district and a rate of 20.8 crimes per 1,000 people.

Glastonbury followed with 123 offences, or 16.1 per 1,000 residents – one of the highest rates in the area. These offences cover a wide range of behaviour that causes fear, alarm or distress, including affray, drunken disorder, and hate crimes.

Wells saw 94 public order crimes (11.2 per 1,000), while Street recorded 90 offences (10.8 per 1,000). Shepton Mallet, by comparison, saw significantly fewer, with 45 reports – a rate of 5.0 per 1,000.

Even the quieter Frome North East area logged 28 offences (3.9 per 1,000).

The statistics – part of a national release covering more than 7,000 neighbourhoods – also highlight high levels of public disorder outside Mendip.

• Weston-super-Mare Town topped the list outside Bristol with 407 offences
• Bridgwater Town in Sedgemoor saw 398 offences
• Central Bath & Lansdown logged 377 offences
• Yeovil Town recorded 328 offences

The worst-hit area in the Avon and Somerset force was Bristol City Centre and Harbourside, where police dealt with 739 public order crimes in just 12 months – the eighth highest in England and Wales.

Public order offences under the Public Order Act 1986 include:

• Affray – using or threatening violence that causes fear in others
• Violent disorder – involving three or more people
• Rioting – involving 12 or more acting with violence for a common cause
• Threatening, abusive or harassing behaviour, including hate crimes

These offences often take place in town centres, near pubs, or during late-night incidents, but police also deal with antisocial behaviour in residential streets, parks, and local shops.

A police spokesperson said: "We understand the impact public order offences can have on communities, particularly in our town centres. Our neighbourhood teams work hard to identify and tackle problem behaviour, and we encourage the public to continue reporting concerns so we can respond quickly and effectively."

The latest figures do not include reports made at train stations – which are handled by British Transport Police – and data from Greater Manchester Police was not included due to reporting delays.

Across England and Wales, there were more than 400,000 public order offences recorded last year.