Crime levels still lower during pandemic, but not as low as they have been
Crime levels across the Avon & Somerset police force area have continued to fall in the past two months - but remain higher than they were during the first national lockdown.
Back in April police revealed crime levels had plummeted by more than a third but the latest statistics reveal in October crime levels were down by almost 10-per cent - with the force recording almost 11,000 crimes.
During two weeks in November overall crime was down by almost 20 per cent.
The document reveals almost 500 people have been fined for breaching Covid rules and officers had to disrupt 20 illegal music events or raves between Mid October and mid November.
It says: "During October, crime demand fell below the seasonably expected level and a steady downward trajectory in demand has been recorded throughout the last 6 – 8 weeks. 15,806 incident logs were created in October. This is 4% lower than the same period in 2019. Similarly, 10,711 crimes were recorded in October, representing a 9.7% reduction on the same period last year.
"Following the imposition of the 2nd national lockdown on 5th November 2020, a further reduction in both calls for service and crime have been experienced.
"For the 2 week period ending on 16th November, the following differences in the ‘seasonally expected averages’ (based upon the same period in 2019 and 2018) were observed - Overall crime decreased by 18.2% (Commercial Burglary decreased by 45.7%; Theft Shop decreased by 44.1%; Serious VAP decreased by 20%; Hate crime increased by 4.8%; Cybercrime increased by 68.8%) Overall calls for service decreased 2.2% (999 calls decreased by 11.1%; 101 calls increased by 2.9%)
The report added: "During the current lockdown legislation has changed that means that protest no longer has an exemption to allow people to gather, this has meant that policing these type of events has had to adapt and this was demonstrated at the recent “Stand Up Bristol” event where 13 people were arrested.
"The Constabulary has also responded to a significant Rave in Yate where the level of violence used against officers by those attending was very high, again a number of people were fined and some arrested and an investigation continues to identify those that attended and organised the event.
"Operation Hydrogen is the response to the funding provided by the Government to tackle enforcement of Covid legislation. The Constabulary were awarded £687,000 and have planned how this money will be spent between now and the end of March 2021. It includes high visibility enforcement 7 days a week, along with engagement with local authorities and marshals, campaigns through corporate communications, additional fleet and cycles, additional intelligence and analysis support and an Inspector to oversee the work.
"Operation Hawthorn is the Constabulary response to unlicensed music events and Raves and consists of a command team and one Police Support Unit, Inspector, 3 Police Sergeants and 18 Police Constable’s) working across the organisation on Friday and Saturday nights and if required coming together to respond to an event such as the Yate rave. This ran from July until the end of Sept and then on Halloween and planned for New Year.
"They have disrupted over 20 events and dealt with those that have arisen for example Bath and Yate."
COVID19 Fines and enforcement (as of 20 November)
There have been a total of 490 FPNs issued for breach of Covid regulations.
Somerset - 177
Bristol - 162
South Glos - 82
North Som - 31
BANES - 9
Awaiting location - 29
The full report can be found here