Police Activity Newsletter - Issue 35

POLICE, CRIME & ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR UPDATE 29th September - 12th October 2021

CRIME OVERVIEW Over the last 2 weeks there have been 364 crimes reported which is slightly higher than the last period. Violence against the person and theft make up over 200 of these offences, similar to the previous 2 weeks. Broadmead, St Augustine’s Parade and Baldwin Street appear to have the most crimes committed. One offender has committed 6 offences, but police have positively engaged with him to actively reduce his offending. There have been 144

Antisocial Behaviour incidents (ASB) reported with a mixture of street, group and general ASB. The peak time for ASB has been

between 6pm and 11pm. Overall year on year crime is still down 4.5% and ASB is down 6%.

NEW PROCESS TO CONFIRM IDENTITY OF POLICE OFFICERS Police Chief Superintendent Liz Hughes has just introduced a new police officer verification process for members of the public who would like to confirm the identity of any serving Avon and Somerset Officer they encounter.

It has been fully recognised that the onus is on the police service to reassure people who have concerns about lone officers and the reason for their interaction with them.

This means that all Police officers will need to provide their name and collar number to anyone who requests it, and call the Control Room on their police radio instructing an operator to confirm their identity and location, turning their radio on loudspeaker

so the member of the public can hear the response.

In addition to verbally confirming the officer’s identity, the Control Room operator will also immediately send a reference number to the officer’s radio which the member of the public can also visually inspect.

All officers equipped with bodyworn video cameras will also need to demonstrate to people it is switched on and recording.

Officers are unable to edit or delete footage from these devices.

Furthermore, if the member of the public prefers, they can also personally call the Control Room themselves on 101, or 999 if they feel in danger, and follow the same verification process.

RETAIL RESPONSE

Over recent months the footfall has increased in the retail areas of Broadmead and Cabot Circus and as a result retail crime has increased. The neighbourhood team routinely work to prosecute the most prolific offenders and over recent months a number of retail retalted Criminal Behaviour Orders have beeen issued. These orders will attempt to keep the most prolific offenders out of the retail sector and have resulted in several successful prosecutions. We also use an

CASE STUDY

Street Intervention Service (SIS) is a multi-agency project to tackle street anti-social behaviour such as begging and street-drinking in Bristol. The project aims to offer individuals help with their problems and issues before enforcement tools are considered.

Operation BROAD was launched to provide tiered enforcement when individuals refuse to engage with supporting agencies. At the beginning of 2021 a male that has been known to SIS since 2016 as a persistent beggar and perpetrator of ASB was issued with a community protection warning (CPW) to address his behaviour

initiative called ‘Operation Heron’ which is designed to ‘deter and disrupt’ retail crime. This is for retailers to engage with potential shoplifters prior to them offending, asking them to leave. By doing this, retailers can often deal with offenders positively without police attendance,resulting in stock not being lost. Retailers can be assured that police will still attend if required. Bridewell’s rangers and security staff and are in the area as and when required.

Neighbourhood Police Team regularly conduct high visibility patrols supported by the local in the community. Despite this warning and numerous attempts to engage this male in support, his behaviour continued, and a community protection notice (CPN) was issued. This male has been housed since the beginning of the year however continues to beg in the City Centre and refuses to engage in the support being offered around his drug and alcohol misuse. Following breaches of the CPN, an application was made to Bristol Magistrates Court for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO). This CBO was granted in September and states that he must not do the

following • Sit, loiter, or approach any person for the purpose of begging • Enter a mapped area which incorporates Broadmead, Cabot Circus and the surrounding area.

The CBO also requires this individual to fully engage with the support that is being offered to improve his health and address substance misuse.

The order will be in place for 3 years and any breach of this court order is a criminal offence and will be dealt with robustly by the Policing teams. Since this order has been in place this male has not breached any of the conditions.

been made. In terms of our wider response Inspector Lorna Dallimore is leading on Female Drinks being spiked as part of our work in the priority of protecting women and young girls. Work has already begun to identify funding streams to provide the NTE with testing kits, and we are currently writing policies and trigger plans for both the venue and Police to

follow when such an incident is recorded. This will very much focus around evidence retrieval and suspect identification. We are also working closely with the Council to deliver an awareness package and are planning Operations centred on the NTE to support venues that report such incidents. We shall keep you updated to developments.

DRINK SPIKING

Over the past week it has been well documented both in main stream Media and on Social Media platforms that Bristol City has seen a number of incidents involving the Spiking of drinks belonging to females in the Night Time Economy setting. Firstly I would like to reassure all that these are being investigated and a number of arrests have