PCC met Crimestoppers and visits community in Bristol

Last Wednesday (19th June), PCC Clare Moody held meetings and engagement activities in central Bristol. The PCC started the day by attending for the first time, the City Partners Breakfast Meeting organised by the Bristol City Office, held at City Hall. The monthly breakfast meetings are a networking opportunity for city partners, and this meeting focussed on global partnerships.

Following this, the PCC met with Karen MacDonald, Regional Manager for Crimestoppers in the West Country and Mick Duthie, Director of Operations, for the Crimestoppers Trust. Karen talked about the work of Crimestoppers, an independent national charity, offering members of the public with information on a crime the ability to report it 100 per cent anonymously either through their phone line or using an online reporting form. All calls and forms are not recorded and cannot be traced. The service has been operating for over 30 years, is free of charge and can be accessed 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. Karen said she has an active committee who works closely with Avon and Somerset Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and partners to not only raise awareness of the charity but to also facilitate campaign/s. In turn encouraging those with information but wish to remain anonymous the confidence to report crime.

The West Country Crimestoppers are well known for their ‘What Would You Do?’ project, which brings together primary schools from across the county to learn about the charity and create their own drama performance, which is performed to their families. This work has enabled different primary schools and their young people to come together, whilst building trust and awareness of the charities anonymous reporting service.

After meeting with Crimestoppers, PCC Clare Moody joined a walk about along Stapleton Road in Easton. Inspector Tom Gent, Neighbourhood Police Team, Inspector Stuart King, and members of the community joined the walk. Clare had the opportunity to talk to some businesses and shop owners to hear about their policing and crime concerns in the area. Shop owners raised concerns about the lack of police presence on and around Stapleton Road, drug dealing, anti-social behaviour, and environmental issues. Recent stabbings in the area have made the community feel anxious and vulnerable, which is why they are asking for more police presence.

Following this, the PCC met with members of the Bristol Somali Forum in St Pauls. Members present expressed similar concerns around knife crime, serious youth violence and school exclusions.

The PCC ended the day by meeting with Avon and Somerset Police’s Major Crime Investigations Team (MCIT). The meeting gave the PCC opportunity to understand MCIT operations, challenges, and opportunities.