POLICE, CRIME AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR UPDATE

16 – 29 MARCH 2023

Crime Stats

Over the past two weeks reported crime has increased from 317 to 338 for this period with 98 reported thefts and 84 reported crimes against the person.

Like always, the police would like to encourage everyone to report any criminal activity witnessed.

Arrest In Trenchard Street Carpark

On Monday 13 March 2023 Streetwise Officers attended Trenchard Street Car Park and arrested a 37 year old male for continuing to breach the conditions on his Community Protection Notice (CPN).

The male in question had conditions not to enter this car park and not to beg, as he was currently living and sleeping in the car park with his partner. He would continue to sit next to the car park ticket machine on the eighth floor and beg, resulting in him being taken to Patchway custody and remanded overnight to attend Bristol Magistrates Court in the morning.

The Court supported the police’s application that this male should be issued a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) with conditions not to enter Trenchard Street Car Park and not to beg in the City of Bristol. The CBO is valid for three years.

A Farewell To Chief Inspector Rob Cheeseman

“I have been involved in policing of the city centre for the past six years and have carried out roles of the Inspector and Chief Inspector. Due to my commitment to areas of work such as anti-social behaviour and business crime I have also gone on to be the force lead for these areas and strived to deliver outstanding policing to a wider community base.

But all good things come to an end and on Monday the 27 March I shall be moving on to take up a new role within Operational Policing.

As I reflect on my time and achievements, I could not have achieved anything with out the team I have been surrounded by, and by the amazing members of the community who have been so committed to supporting our local policing team.

Chief Inspector Vicky Hayward-Melen will be leading the local policing team from the 27 March, and I am sure that you will offer her the same support you have to me.”

A Protest To Mark The Anniversary Of The Kill The Bill City Centre Riots

On the evening of Tuesday 21 March 2023, a planned protest took place in central Bristol. Arranged to mark the second anniversary of the 'Kill the Bill Protest' at Bridewell police station, which saw police vehicles set alight, numerous officers assaulted and the police station being extensively damaged.

As a result of this disorder, numerous people have since been convicted of related offences including riot and their joint sentences have resulted in custodial sentences being imposed numbering over 100 years.

Due to anticipated numbers, a full policing operation was put in place to facilitate peaceful protest and mitigate negative impacts on the wider community, living in, working in or visiting the city. The police have well practised plans for dealing with all types of protest with various resources being briefed for the occasion. These resources can be typically composed of police liaison officers (PLTs), neighbourhood police officers, mounted section, dog handlers, public order trained officers, evidence gatherers (EGs) with recording equipment and forward intelligence officers (FIT). The latter are usually deployed in pairs to gather intelligence on the ground, monitor activity and deter anti-social behaviour. In the run up to the protest, police liaison officers (PLTs) had previously been tasked with making contact with the protest groups, to ascertain their objectives and establish the route for any march.

In relation to the majority of protests, there are usually persons willing to engage in advance with the police. However, on this occasion, the police had been unable to identify anyone representing the protest group or protest groups who was willing to communicate and talk with the police. No solo organiser came forward at any point to take responsibility. Whilst additional resources were made available to manage any potential issues arising, a ‘neighbourhood policing’ style was adopted from the outset, to focus on engagement and facilitation of peaceful and lawful protest.

PLTs and neighbourhood police officers monitored and tried to engage with the protestors for the most part and accompanied them on their march. It took around half an hour for the protestors to fully assemble. Protestors started to slowly gather in the Bear Pit at St. James Barton roundabout from approximately 17:30 hrs, in very small numbers initially, before eventually moving on foot to Bridewell police station.

In all, various groups were in attendance numbering approximately 150 persons in total, but less than anticipated or predicted on social media. Those gathered appeared to be a coalition of various groups and organisations, loosely coming together to protest against ‘police and state violence’ and a small number of those gathered carried banners.

Most of the protestors then walked slowly along the Haymarket and straight into Bridewell Street where they stopped outside the Bridewell Police station. A number police officers accompanied them on this short march and monitored their activity. A few of the protestors then gave a series of brief speeches.

The evening’s protest was peaceful in nature, with no disorder taking place and no persons needing to be

Redcliffe Drugs Related Closure Order

Last year, Avon and Somerset Police enacted 24 drug-related closure orders on properties across the area. Of these, 14 were carried out in Bristol by the Project ADDER team, a project funded by the Home Office to reduce drug-related crime and deaths in Bristol.

These closure orders are part of our work, in partnership with local authorities and services, to tackle the impact that drug-related crime and is having on communities. Windows smashed, fighting on the street outside, and open drug-use on their doorsteps are just some of the realities of living near to a ‘drug house’. Project ADDER work closely with the neighbourhood policing team in the area, to build a picture from the community, to tackle the addresses that are causing the most arrested during the event. After about an hour, the protestors departed the area outside Bridewell Police Station and returned to the roundabout around the Bear Pit and then proceeded up to Stokes Croft. At 19:30 hrs the protestors dispersed of their own accord, with the event concluding peacefully with no repeat of the events of two years ago. problems for people living and working close to these addresses.

Recently, the work of the Redcliffe neighbourhood team and the partners linked the community, together with police and council provided evidence to the courts who gave a closure order in respect of a problematic address,