Police Activity Newsletter - Issue 30

POLICE, CRIME & ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR UPDATE 21ST JULY - 3RD AUGUST 2021

CRIME OVERVIEW

Crime reported over the last two weeks has decreased slightly. Thefts from vehicles have reduced, however, they are still happening and appear to be by opportunist thieves, so we

continue to encourage people not to leave valuables on display.

Bike theft is still occurring in and around the city, however this has definitely decreased since our work recovering the bikes a few

weeks ago. The majority of violent offences and public order offences are happening in the Old City area, as such we are proactively targeting this area and applying a long-term problem solving plan.

privately owned e-scooters can only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission. Many of the same rules of the road also apply to riders of e-scooters. For example, it is an offence to ride one whilst over the alcohol limit or whilst under the influence of drugs, to pass through red lights, and to use pavements. It is also an offence to carry more than one person on them. The police will generally give a warning on the first occasion and if caught again, privately owned e-scooters may be seized, and the riders prosecuted

for the relevant offences.

The VOI e-scooter trial is being monitored closely so, if you see misuse of a VOI e-scooter, please note the registration number which is displayed on the back, side and stem of the vehicle and e-mail support@voiapp.io whereupon the company may decide to suspend or deactivate the rider’s account or levy a fine against them.

E-SCOOTERS There has been a big increase in the number of e-scooters in our city. E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles and are therefore subject to the same regulations.

Insurance and a driving licence is required for any motor vehicle on public roads and as insurance is not available for privately owned e-scooters, it is therefore illegal to use privately owned e-scooters on public roads, footpaths, pavements or cycle lanes.

Currently, the VOI e-scooter trial vehicles are the only ones which carry insurance so all other

STABBING INCIDENT IN BALDWIN STREET At approximately 03:00am on Saturday 24th July Police were notified of two stabbings that had just occurred in the vicinity of a well-known night club in Baldwin Street in Bristol city centre. At the same time, a large-scale disorder commenced outside the venue.

Numerous Police officers responded to the incidents to restore order and officers attending the scene quickly located the two male victims, one with a stab wound to the neck and the other with a slash wound to the

face. Both victims went to hospital, one escorted there by Police. Both males sustained significant injuries that required hospital treatment but are now in a stable condition.

Whilst it is believed an altercation had taken place between two groups of young men, no known suspects have yet been identified and CCTV checks are ongoing.

Police are currently seeking further information and witnesses to come forward to assist them with the investigation.

HARBOURSIDE TASK AND FINISH GROUP Due to the rise in crime and AntiSocial Behaviour related incidents within the Harbour side area, Chief Inspector Rob Cheeseman has convened a Task and Finish Group of key partners and stakeholders to deliver a problem-solving plan to achieve improvements. The partners include Police, Council, Licencing, BID and Night-Time Economy. The group met last week and as a result they have identified actions that have already been

completed and 14 outstanding tasks that the group want to complete to achieve an overall improvement.

This group will be a dynamic ensemble with a vision to deliver the improvements over a short 3-month period. As part of this, the group are keen to hear any ideas that local business may have or specific concerns that need to be addressed.

If you feel you would like to be involved, please pass your comments through the BID.

STREETWISE One of the central aims of the Streetwise Service is to reduce Anti-Social Behaviour associated with the street-based community.

Through engagement with persons involved, support will be offered with housing, substance abuse and funding access. Enforcement is used for those who refuse to engage and works on an incremental scale starting with simple verbal warnings to post conviction Criminal Behaviour Orders and civil injunctions. In the past week, one male was given a 6-month prison

sentence for his constant refusal to engage with services and continued begging. A second male, who had been causing issues on Baldwin St was recalled to prison for failing to keep to his licence restrictions. A CBO was granted against a violent male convicted of theft who was also imprisoned for 12 months and finally, a further male, repeatedly begging in an aggressive manner on Gloucester Rd, was arrested on a court warrant and a CBO application will be decided upon in court next month.