The crime year is coming to an end and next month I will give you an overview of the levels of crime that we have suffered in our community. It is generally good news with crime down overall compared to the previous year. I am also pleased that our detection rates are continuing to improve. It is very pleasing to see house burglaries down by a significant amount.
Some smart police work and invaluable local knowledge helped us catch a man who tried to entice two young women into his car on the same night in Combe Down, Bath in April 2010. We identified a suspect from CCTV pictures at the local petrol station and then one of our PCSO’s recognised the man as someone he’d been to school with – but couldn’t remember his name. After some discreet inquiries we quickly found out and detectives arrested him at home in Radstock. At Bristol Crown Court, Shaun Watts admitted attempted kidnap and was jailed for four years. The judge told him that he was danger to the public and young women in particular.
We’ve been out on patrol with a specially-trained police dog giving pubs and clubs in the City Centre a health and safety check-up. Last Friday night we were joined by the Avon Fire and Rescue Service and BANES Council’s Licensing Officer, for a monthly operation to ensure that premises comply with licensing laws and to check that fire exits were not obstructed or premises overcrowded. The dog provides the facility to search the premises for signs of drugs which helps us understand where some of our problem premises might be. It’s a regular high-profile exercise that sends the message that the authorities are vigilant about keeping people safe – and shows again how we won’t tolerate drug-taking.
Often at this time of the year we see an increase in the theft of tools and equipment from garden sheds. So we will be circulating crime prevention messages to try to alert people to the heightened risk.
Our Community Safety Team and Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator have been reminding householders, particularly the elderly, not to be taken in by companies making ‘cold calls’ over the telephone and on the doorstep. It follows a number of complaints in the past week to Police about the practice in Bath, Priston and Midsomer Norton.
Our advice, always, is that you should never buy goods or services on the doorstep or over the phone from someone who you don't know or is not recommended to you. You should never give personal details over the phone to anyone you don't know - and definitely never give your bank details.
