Police Activity Newsletter - Issue 18

POLICE, CRIME & ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR UPDATE January 2021 HAPPY NEW YEAR Saying farewell to 2020 and welcoming in the New Year for many of us seemed like such a relief. Since then, we have entered a further period of lockdown and many of the anxieties and worries return.

home. For any crime queries, advice or bicycle marking requests, please contact Gareth on police@bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk.

Gareth can offer his support over the phone, at a socially-distanced meeting or on a video call.

The Bristol City Centre BID Police Officer, Gareth Ayers, continues to patrol the city centre area through this extremely difficult time, working with businesses to reduce crime and offer policing support as many of us stay at

CRIME OVERVIEW Over the last two weeks, there have been 137 recorded crimes across the beat areas. This is down 30 from the last period.

There has been a notable reduction in theft offences from 74 down to 39, showing a successful reduction through better reporting by retailers and additional patrolling officers present in the Bristol Shopping Quarter over the Christmas period. Theft levels have been inflated by a male stealing almost

daily from one retailer in the area. We are actively looking to arrest this male and deal with him positively. We anticipate that

crime levels will drop further over the next few weeks as more people stay at home in the third national lockdown.

LOCKDOWN 3.0 The national lockdown brings further restrictions to the public and business communities.

The police are working hard to ensure that the guidelines and legislation will continue, and our 4 E approach (Engage, Explain, Encourage, Enforce) remains with more focus on Enforcement as directed by National Policing guidelines set out this week.

Work with the Covid Marshals also continues, focussing on key locations throughout the

city centre and ensuring Bristol remains as safe as possible in this difficult time.

If you have concerns with adherence to the rules, feel unsafe or need advice on what is or is not allowed, please contact the Bristol City Centre BID Officer, PC Ayers, who will address your issues and, where needed, deploy resources.

PC Ayers can be emailed on police@bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk.

SWEP Due to the recent extreme cold weather, the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) arrangements were activated and ran until January 9th. The SWEP arrangements are made to temporarily house those who are homeless and living on the streets, to safeguard those individuals at a time of extreme vulnerability.

The criteria that cause the SWEP to be implemented are as follows; • The temperature is likely to be zero degrees or below for three nights in a row • The Met Office issue an amber warning of rain and wind that is likely to last three nights in a row • Other factors such as wind chill that could also bring a risk to life When the SWEP is activated, those in need of the support available can call 0117 407 0330 where they will be able to speak to a member of the St Mungo’s Outreach Team and confirm their

VACCINES There are now several COVID-19 vaccine centres being set up across the city.

One of these being a large site at Bristol City Football Club at Ashton Gate, as well as smaller sites across Bristol. space for the night. Everyone is given a space to sleep and no one will be turned away. Requests made after 5pm are processed by the emergency duty team on 01454 615 165. Outreach workers do endeavour to contact those in need and offer support, but this information can be shared with anyone working in or visiting the city centre so that persons seen rough sleeping can be advised of these arrangements. With further periods of cold weather likely in the weeks ahead, all involved in the SWEP are keen to ensure that this service is well used when in operation.

There will be a small centre set up outside Superdrug in Bristol Shopping Quarter providing vaccination services within the city centre.

The police are working closely with all sites, conducting thorough risk assessments and offering support in relation to thefts and potential protests. Patrols of the areas will be conducted regularly with security advice and reassurance provided by the local neighbourhood teams.