With the New Year well underway it is time to introduce the new members of your Bridgwater Town Centre Police team. Myself, Sgt Andy Smith and PC’s Jon Bartlett and Simon Bawler. The good news is that PC Jasmine Graham is still on the team and continuing in her existing role and I for one am grateful for that. I would like to express my thanks at this point to Sgt Paul White, PC Shaun Desmond and Mandy Gornicki-Bond for their work in developing the Town Centre Team and the established local partnerships. We will be doing all we can to build on that success and develop new initiatives in the coming months. The Crime Surgery was run again in Angel Place shopping precinct and proved popular. I would like to thank Ian Harris (Shopping Centre Manager) for allowing us to “set up our stall”.

Operation Grotto

This Operation was run again this year over the Christmas period. Additional officers were on duty in the Town Centre and positive feedback has been received from the general public about such a visible presence. We hope that this has resulted in reducing stock loss and a lower crime rate during December. Overall, although very busy at times, we observed a generally good standard of behaviour from the public. I believe that this was due to several factors; high visibility of officers on foot, other officers performing covert patrols, shop/door safe security staff, support from the Bridgwater Business Security Group (BBSG), RadioLink members and CCTV. Two particular incidents involving PubWatch and RetailWatch members resulted in very good arrests so well done to all concerned.

Safer Shopping Award

Jasmine Graham has received an internal Police Award for her partnership work with the BBSG which resulted in Bridgwater being accredited for the Home Office ‘Safer Shopping Award”. A formal presentation of the Safer Shopping award will be attended by senior Avon and Somerset officers and invited guests this month. I am keen to support membership of the BBSG. Retail Watch and Pub Watch schemes, and will encourage businesses who meet the criteria to join. Additional radio link units are being installed in response vehicles increasing our ability to respond to incidents in the town. The team is working to a revised shift pattern to extend coverage through the day and into early evening (Monday to Thursday) and later at the weekend.
We look forward to working with you in 2003.

PS Andy Smith
Tel: 01823 363330