- Our dedicated Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Nat completes proactive patrols in the city centre, Redcliffe and Temple areas and works closely with our business community to achieve better outcomes in addressing crime and anti-social behaviour. Nat works alongside the Neighbourhood Policing Team who are happy to meet businesses to offer further support and guidance with reporting or for any specific concerns.
BID Updates - Safety
Safety-focused resources available to BID business community members
Highlighting the procedures and support in place for businesses in the city centre.
04/03/2024
BID Lead
Carmen Ceesay
In light of recent events regarding knife crime in the city centre, Bristol City Centre BID and Redcliffe & Temple BID are keen to highlight the support and services available to our business community through our partnerships with Avon and Somerset Police and Bristol City Council.
Following a fatality on 14 February 2024, Avon and Somerset Police temporarily granted stop and search powers from 5pm on 15 February 2024 for an initial 24 hour period. This gave police officers the authority to stop and search anyone in the designated area of Bristol city centre, St Pauls, Easton, Temple, and Fishponds without needing reasonable grounds for suspicion due to recent events. The stop and search powers were extended a further 24 hours to 5pm on Saturday 17 February, where a total of 33 people were stopped and searched.
Weapon surrender bins for unwanted knives are in place outside police stations across the policing area, including The Bridewell Police Station, with other permanent bins outside Bristol Crown Court, Bristol Magistrates’ Court, Castle Park, and Trojan Tree Fighters. Click here to see the complete list of weapon surrender bins.
Several procedures are already in place for our business community across the BID areas, facilitated by Bristol Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP):
Dedicated PCSO
DISC
- Disc is in operation and available to all Bristol City Centre BID, Redcliffe & Temple BID, and Broadmead BID business community members upon request. This is an incident and information sharing system aimed at improving crime prevention. Disc enables you to view and submit incident and intelligence reports regarding low-level crime and anti-social behaviour in your area. To learn more about Disc or request access, please get in touch.
radio scheme
- Our Bristol City Centre Radio Scheme is also in place across the city, where more than 200 businesses are utilising the Radio Net system, including supermarkets, retailers, pubs, nightclubs, and hotels. This radio system establishes direct connectivity with key stakeholders including Bristol City Council’s Operations Centre, Avon and Somerset Police, Cabot Circus, The Galleries, and the Bristol Street Pastors. The radio system operates day and night and supports the Disc system. For more information or to request access to the scheme, please get in touch.
retail security meetings
- Retailers within Bristol City Centre BID, Redcliffe & Temple BID, and Broadmead BID are encouraged to come along to a Retail Security Meeting and ensure the voice of your business is heard. Taking place on the first Wednesday of every month, these meetings are designed to keep you informed on the latest criminal activity and anti-social behaviour which may be affecting your store. These meetings also give businesses the opportunity to exchange ideas and information, raise any concerns, and ask questions. Click here for more information.
The BIDs will be joining the new locality-based Community Safety Delivery Group that is being formed for the city centre area. This is one of four locality-based groups the police are introducing city-wide to ensure local delivery of key work that addresses community safety and other local priorities. Tackling serious violence is one of seven thematic priorities within Bristol’s wider community safety plan.
We are here to help and support our business community. If you have any questions, concerns, or need advice with safety and reporting, please get in touch.
If you have any training or education requests related to safety, including training for radios or Disc, please get in touch.
HOW TO REPORT
For an emergency happening right now – call 999
BUSINESS CRIME
Report business crime, including theft and antisocial behaviour.
report online to the policeBUSINESS CRIME SUPPORT
If you are a business that has experienced theft or anti-social behaviour and you would like further support
get in touch