Police Activity Newsletter - Issue 15

POLICE, CRIME & ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR UPDATE 10th - 24th November CRIME OVERVIEW There has been a decrease in crime over the last two weeks with a total of 162 crimes reported, significantly less than the 263 crimes reported to the police this time last year.

There have been eight burglary offences made up of six residential and two commercial offences.

During this lockdown period, please ensure that you are extra vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police.

being charged and sentenced to prison for five of them.

There have also been 18 pedal cycle thefts reported. Our work to reduce cycle theft continues with There have been a total of 30 shop Bristol City Centre BID funded thefts reported, with one male Police Officer, Gareth Ayres, who

can now mark bikes with the secure BikeRegsiter scheme to ensure your bike is safely returned once found or act as a theft deterrent.

If you would like yours registered please email Gareth at police@ bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk.

A LIFE AWAY FROM THE STREETS The Streetwise Team are working hard to support some very vulnerable individuals off the streets over the winter. Bristol City Council are currently using The Wing, YHA and Arnos Vale Manor as temporary accommodation, providing shelter for the homeless through the winter months. Although some within the street community have very complex needs, the team continue to work with vital city centre partners to reduce rough sleeping. Thanks to this work, one man who had been on the streets for over 10 years has now moved into private rented

accommodation. He is working with drug and alcohol support workers to reduce his levels of use, has stopped begging and is now looking for a job.

He also now helps out with a homelessness charity. In another

case study, a young woman who has lived a chaotic life and been on the streets for several years has also been helped. She had become stuck in an abusive relationship, but thanks to positive engagement, is now separated from her abuser and living away from the area. Working positively with Nextlink and Bristol Drugs Project she has been able to move on with her life and find a brighter future. Thanks to the great work by all members of the Streetwise Team, these individuals, along with many others, are now living a safer life and have the support needed to move away from the streets for good.

POLICING IN LOCKDOWN 2.0 Government funding has allowed for 16 Covid Marshals to be recruited by Bristol City Council and they are now working in partnership with the local policing teams to achieve shared objectives of improving compliance with COVID regulations. By working together we want to provide a consistent message and approach that supports people in achieving and maintaining compliance with the restrictions that are in place, but also provides a solid foundation for targeted

enforcement where people fail or refuse to do what is required of them. The Council’s Covid Marshals don’t have enforcement powers but the police do, who are now making greater use of those powers in order to influence behaviours where necessary. A joint tasking process has been established so that public health information, breaches reported to the police and local community feedback influences where and when the police and Council resources are deployed.

The Business Improvement Districts are also part of this tasking process so if you have information or requests relating to non-compliance with the regulations please report them to police@bristolcitycentrebid.co.uk.

ANTI-LOCKDOWN PROTEST

FAREWELL

The ‘Stand Up Bristol’ antilockdown protest Saturday 14th November received widespread media attention and saw 14 people arrested. Current legislation applied by central Government prohibits any protest of more than two people. Previously exemptions had existed if a protest supported a political cause and had been risk assessed by the organisers. This meant that previously organised protests had been allowed to take place, but this was not the case for the ‘Stand Up Bristol’ event.

Police Protest Liaison Officers had tried to engage with organisers prior to the event, to explain the restrictions and encourage supporters of the movement to stay away from the city centre.

As those appeals were ignored, a policing operation was planned and implemented to respond appropriately and end the protest effectively. Efforts to ‘engage, explain and encourage’ were

A farewell message from Sergeant Chris Starr:

repeated on the day, however, this approach was not effective for the 400 people gathered to march around the city. Arrests of those believed to have been involved in organising the event followed, with one person being arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. Five people have since been charged with offences relating to the event. Police action on the day was delivered to support city-wide efforts to reduce COVID infection rates locally and ultimately to try and get the city back open as soon and as safely possible.

“What is so special about the 3rd April 2015? For me, it was the first shift as the Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant for East Central Bristol. It is with a degree of sadness that I will be leaving my current role as of January 2021 to take a new role with Uniformed Patrol in Bath on promotion to Inspector.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to all those who have supported the policing in this marvellous city of ours, it has truly been a pleasure in helping make Bristol a safe and inviting place to live, work, study and visit. Finally, for the fifth and last time, Merry Christmas and let’s hope for a far more