More positive action taken as part of Safer Streets Summer initiative

More positive action was taken by Gloucestershire Constabulary last month (August) as part of the national Safer Streets Summer initiative.

The initiative, which began on 30 June and runs until the end of this month (September), focuses on making town and city centres safer by tackling issues such as shoplifting, street crime and anti-social behaviour.

As part of efforts to reduce offending, officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Teams are continuing to take part in activity.

Results for August include:

• 33 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters seized during a day of action in Gloucester with others also seized in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury;
• 22 arrests made for offences such as robbery, theft, vandalism and assaults;
• Ten people given anti-social behaviour related out of court disposals;
• Eight people given retail crime related out of court disposals;
• Five people given a street crime related out of court disposal.

Out of court disposals are when matters are not taken to court and can include outcomes such as cautions, conditional cautions, penalty notices and community resolutions.

A day of action in Gloucester saw officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team work alongside the Drone Unit to track anyone who was seen to be riding an e-bike or e-scooter illegally.

This resulted in officers seizing over 30 of the vehicles and issuing a Notice of Intended Prosecution to one man who attempted to flee after officers had stopped him.

Immigration and Trading Standards colleagues also joined the day of action and around £3,000 of worth of illegal vapes and 13 suspected counterfeit Labubu dolls were seized.

Elsewhere in the county, more Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) have been implemented in Cheltenham and Gloucester after foot patrols identified street drinking.

These orders prohibit anyone from having open containers of alcohol in a public place and anyone who is caught will be asked to dispose of it or risk being issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Sealed alcohol containers can also be seized under the PSPO if it is believed that the owner is likely to commit anti-social behaviour as a result of consumption.

Officers across the county have also engaged with businesses and bars to ensure that any incidents are reported at the earliest opportunity.

Combined efforts from teams across the county saw 1,039 hours spent patrolling the streets of Gloucestershire.

Chief Inspector Marcus Forbes-George said: "I am pleased with the continued success of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative.

"All of the good work that has taken place clearly demonstrates the difference that the initiative is having in towns and city centres across Gloucestershire.

"There has been a lot of praise from members of the public who have seen officers taking part in proactive activity and I would like to once again thank everyone who has played a part in making the streets of Gloucestershire as safe as possible."

 

A police drone

An illegal e-bike which was seized in Cheltenham

 

A motorbike which was seized in the Cotswolds

 

Officers on foot patrol in the Forest of Dean

 

E-bikes which were seized during the day of action in Gloucester

 

Officers at a partner agency event in Stroud

 

An officer on foot patrol in Tewkesbury