Police Activity Newsletter - Issue 16

POLICE, CRIME & ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR UPDATE 24th November- 8th December CRIME OVERVIEW There have been 163 crimes reported in the last two weeks with a spread of crimes almost identical to the last period. With the reopening of retail, the police are encouraging all shops to challenge shoplifters and report offences by calling 101 or reporting it online: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/ report. This week, one of the most prolific shoplifters was arrested in Cabot Circus. He was charged The local teams are also looking with the offence and will appear in to charge the individual with a court in due course.

Criminal Behaviour Officer

following this conviction which will ban him from the area for up to two years.

DiSC: REDUCING CITY CENTRE CRIME

A city-wide marketing Bristol City Centre BID campaign to DiSC in early implemented support local 2020, as part of the Business businesses Crime Partnership as they Reduction safely

(BCRP) which includes Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Bristol city Council.

DiSC is an intelligence software system aimed at the retail and hospitality sectors which allows users to view the profiles of prolific offenders within the area, report incidents and share information to reduce city centre crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB).

Users are able to submit reports highlighting specific areas of concern, as well as suspects.

The Bristol together campaign

The system has also been used successfully to identify offenders from images posted by various businesses. The reports are regularly viewed by the police and are an invaluable tool in the identification of crime, ASB hotspots and persons causing the greatest harm.

The campaign reassures those returning to shop, work, study, visit or spend leisure time in the city centre that it remains a safe and welcoming place. As business-

Should you wish to be part of DiSC please contact Fran Inman at Bristol City Centre BID on fran@ bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk

What is it?

KEEPING CHRISTMAS KIND #KeepingChristmasKind is a new campaign launched by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) that has been adopted locally. The campaign aims to recognise and reduce abuse to shop workers during the pandemic and to show our support through the Christmas and winter months ahead. With uncertainty around family gatherings at Christmas, city centre shopping could become far busier with tensions spilling over on the high street.

There is a concern that those on our festive frontline could bear

the brunt of shoppers’ frustrations about wearing masks and distancing measures, leading to increased abuse and assaults.

Retail Trade Union Usdaw’s research has shown that every minute of the working day, a shop worker is verbally abused or assaulted. The families of three shop workers who have been verbally abused, threatened with knives and even had a flare pulled out on them have shared their loved ones’ experiences in an emotive film.

Click here to watch it.

These are real people who have put themselves at risk working in essential shops, keeping families fed and providing vital human interaction for many who have been lonely for much of the year.

With your help we can make people stop and rethink their behaviour this Christmas.

POLICING BROADMEAD

CYBER SECURITY

This week, PC Jack Wall, Broadmead Beat Manager, has conducted a proactive week targeting shop theft, drug dealing, ASB, vehicle crime and actioning court arrest warrants. In result, six people have been arrested for supplying drugs at Brandon Hill Park and Castle Park, three people have been arrested with outstanding court warrants, a prolific shop thief was prosecuted and several vehicles have been seized for having no insurance.

The National Cyber Security Centre recommends you review your Board’s Information Risk Regime, together with the following nine associated security areas, in order to protect your business against the majority of cyber attacks: • Network security • User education & awareness • Malware prevention • Removable media controls • Secure configuration • Managing user privileges • Incident management • Monitoring • Home & mobile working

There have also been several Project Servator deployments around the city. Project Servator is the name given to unpredictable, highly visible police deployments carried out by Avon and Somerset

Police and other police forces designed to disrupt a wide range of criminal activity. The tactics aim to identify and disrupt hostile reconnaissance - the information gathering a criminal does when planning to commit a criminal act, including terrorist attacks.

Click here to read more on Project Servator.

Click here to read more.