“NO-ONE is talking about social distancing when they’re drug dealing” - according to a Council officer.

Councillors from the Bradford South constituency were being given an update on how Bradford Council’s Covid 19 recovery plan would look in their area at a meeting on Thursday.

Members were also asked to approve the key priorities that will help the area’s recovery.

During the meeting an officer told members that many of the risky anti social behaviour issues that plagued some areas before lockdown were now highlighted by the pandemic, as they could lead to the virus being spread through communities.

Members heard how Council staff were working in the area to help prevent the spread of the virus and educate people as to the best way to keep healthy.

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This included wardens offering advice to businesses on how to open and operate safely and youth workers raising awareness of Covid and let young people know the dangers of congregating in large groups.

They also worked with people in the community who were shielding.

The meeting was held on Thursday evening, a few hours before the Government announced lockdown restrictions would be tightened in Bradford.

Mick Charlton, Bradford South Area Co-Ordinator, said the priorities had been created after a consultation with the Council’s Anti Social Behaviour scheme and other similar groups.

While at the start of lockdown the main anti-social issues were people meeting when they shouldn’t be, the ease of lockdown had led to a return of more typical anti-social issues like drug dealing.

However, these issues often overlapped, members heard.

Mr Charlton said: “There are issues like anti social behaviour and drug dealing.

“No-one’s talking about social distancing or wearing masks when they are out drug dealing.

“We need to be thinking about issues of community safety and the impact on the transmission of Covid.”

The recovery plan includes preparing for localised outbreaks and possible second spikes in the area, helping residents and businesses cope with the economic impact of the virus and lockdown, support people’s mental health, which may have been badly impacted by the pandemic, and dealing with the impact of reduced health access over lockdown.

Mr Charlton told members areas of the constituency already had low rates of people taking up certain medical screenings, such as smear tests, and it was vital that work was done to make sure people have access to these services again as soon as possible.

Councillor Tariq Hussain (Lab, Great Horton) asked if recovery activities would focus on certain areas of the constituency.

Mr Charlton replied: “Covid disproportionately impacts some places, and one of those areas likely to be impacted more is Great Horton. We have to be ready for outbreaks in some areas, and it may be we put more resources in those areas.

“If the issues then turns out to be bigger in an area such as Royds we will switch resource to that area to stop the spread of the virus. We may concentrate on the areas that have high infection rates.”

Members approved the recovery plan.