City Protection Officers – Monthly Report April 2021

The graph shows the data for April 2021, supplied by Gloucester City Safe

87 Police CCTV Incidents attended for April 2021.

Highlights for the Month

• 1^st– The Barton team Broke up a fight between two males, the argument was over a parking space, but it was illegal to park there anyway. Both were removed from the area.
• The team visited all open stores in the Barton street and Tredworth areas, spoke with shop staff and customers, they answered questions on the road map to unlock down.
• The City safe team and store staff stopped a male who was shoplifting, all information added to DISC.
• Assisted in detaining two drunks, one male and a female who had assaulted shop staff after being caught stealing goods.
• 2^nd– Caught the same individual stealing from two different stores, all items retrieved, and all details added to DISC.
• Called to assist with a young female who was trying to harm herself. After talking with her she decided to go home to her supported living accommodation.
• Called to several stores where shoplifting had occurred, checked CCTV to identify the culprits, all details have been added to DISC.
• 3^rd– Removed street beggars from the transport hub area, they are being aggressive in their manner when approaching the public.
• Street drinkers removed from a public area due to the noise and them being rude to members of the public.
• One of the well- known street beggars was reported as wanted, so spent time trying to locate this individual.
• 4^th– Spoke to and engaged with the “kill the Bill” protesters on the Cross. This was a small crowd protesting and there were no problems, and they were happy to work with us.
• Stopped a street beggar taking advantage of some young teenagers, spoke with the teenagers and explained why he was removed from the area.
• 5^th– Welfare check and street link sent reference a new homeless individual, got all agencies in touch with this person.
• Checked the store CCTV after a group managed to get away with items. All but one was named, and all details added to DISC profiles, also informed police via crime report.
• Removed several street beggars away from public areas and around the ATM machines.
• 6^th– The Barton and Tredworth patrol was on today, they visited all open stores in the area, engaging with the store staff and members of the public on all covid related issues but also carried out welfare checks with the street drinkers in the area.
• The street beggars were moved on from certain public areas in Barton.
• The City safe team spoke with a new person in the area, managed to get him in touch with correct agencies to get him some help and something to eat.
• Called to assist with the removal of a drunk who was refusing to leave the store, the police happened to be driving past and assisted.
• Assisted a police officer who was breaking up a group of individuals who were arguing, shouting obscenities at each other in the middle of the City. The groups were separated.
• 7^th– The CPOs were called to check a stores CCTV to identify an individual who had taken a charity box from the counter. The male was identified and reported to the police. It was also logged onto DISC.
• Missing person reported so all teams checking all main areas.
• Called to assist with the removal of three young males who were causing issues in Eastgate car park.
• 8^th– Called to sort out an argument between a couple of people over money, the two are known individuals, all information passed onto the police to keep an eye on.
• Spoke with a male who had been beaten up by a group of street drinkers, this is the same group that had been in town arguing previously. Cleaned him up and advised him to go to the police and report it. He refused however CPOs reported the incident.
• Monitored large groups of known individuals around the city.
• 9^th– Engaging with the farmers market stall holders and put council Covid safety signs in place.
• Removed a large group of street drinkers in London road area, as they had sat over the pavement and people could not pass, spoke with them and they moved on.
• Called to a store to identify an individual who was seen shoplifting but had run off. He was named and all details added to DISC. Removed a person from the store who is on a City safe store ban.
• Removed a large group of drinkers (different group) from a city centre location, they were making a lot of noise.
• 10^th– The two teams were in again today; the city team were called to a large store to assist with an individual that has been banned for abusing the staff but returns daily. This person was warned about his behaviour, reported to the police, and added to DISC.
• Spent the day putting up signage ready for the re-opening of the high street. The signs are the Covid information boards around the city centre.
• The city safe team were called to assist with a female who had been caught stealing by a staff member, this individual became very abusive and threatening, she had left the store before the CPOs arrived. Her name was known so all information added to DISC.
• 11^th– Spoke with and engaged with some of the “kill the Bill” protesters on the cross, no issues and peaceful protest.
• Removed a large group of street drinkers from behind the Long Smiths car park area. They were starting to get very loud.
• A large group of teenaged boys were causing some issues in and around the city, spoke with them and offered advice about their behaviour, no major issues caused after advice given.
• 12^th– The next phase of the “Road map to recovery” all non-essential stores to re-open, the CPOs were on hand to offer information and advice where required, we also gave out council information leaflets and PPE equipment where needed.
• Called to deal with an unconscious individual who was near the transport Hub. An ambulance was called, which arrived and took over the incident. The injured person is well known by CPOs and ambulance service.
• Confirmed the identification of a pair of shoplifters, all information added to DISC.
• 13^th– The two teams were on duty today, the Barton and Tredworth team patrolled the whole area and engaged with all recently open shops helping where required.
• Assisted with equipment to one of the local Mosques and spoke with the people around the area.
• The city team were engaged with shoplifting incidents and aggressive beggars. But also engaging with store staff and customers.
• 14^th– The team attended a Street Aware meeting via Zoom today, information exchanged about certain individuals who are causing the most issues.
• Called to several incidents of shop thefts, some of the items were retrieved and returned to the store, identifications made on the others by CCTV, all details will be added to DISC.
• 15^th– A very large group of street drinkers were reminded about Covid regulations and drinking in a PSPO area. They were dispersed from this area. The incident was added to information to relevant agencies who are dealing with the street drinking issue.
• An area being used by a small group of “homeless” individuals was cleared by CPOs and the street cleaning team, (many thanks to them) this area was becoming blighted by the mess and smell, with drug taking paraphernalia lying around in view to the public.
• Called to assist with members of the public being abusive to shop keepers after being spoken to about not wearing masks / social distancing.
• 16^th– The farmers market was on today, a few more stalls open and lots of people, Covid signage put out.
• A group of four males in a car were spotted, when the vehicle stopped two got out to urinate on the side of the road, when spoken to about this behaviour it was realised, they had all been drinking. This was reported and resulted in the driver being arrested for drink driving and having no licence or insurance.
• Called to deal with shoplifters in several stores, all were identified and reported to police and added to DISC.
• 17^th First aid incident where a male had fallen over and banged his head; he was bleeding and was having dizzy spells. An ambulance was called, and they took over the incident and the injured male was then taken to GRH.
• Called to assist with a female who had stolen alcohol from Tesco’s on Station road, the female was stopped and some of the items were taken back, sadly some was already being drunk. Police arrived and the female was arrested.
• Broke up a fight on Clarence street, both parties were separated by the CPOs, all information was passed to CCTV who monitored both parties.
• 18^th– Monitored and deterred a shoplifter who had been removed from several shops in and around the city.
• Broke up a fight between male and female, both separated and moved away in different directions. No further issues.
• A group of drunk males, one in a hospital wheelchair roaming the city, CCTV informed so they could monitor them.
• 19^th–Called to deal with several shoplifting incidents, all goods retrieved, and both put onto DISC. One was arrested by the police.
• 20^th– Both teams were patrolling today, the Barton and Tredworth teams visited all the open shops and spoke with shop staff and members of the public.
• A shoplifter was stopped by the team and all goods retrieved and returned to store.
• The city safe team Dealt with a large group of street drinkers and moved them on from their location as they were disturbing people around them.
• Assisted with a first aid incident after a male had tripped over and hit his head, he refused an ambulance but said he would attend A&E later.
• A missing youth was found and spoken with until police PCSO attended and took him to Bearlands.
• 21^st– Called to attend several shoplifting incidents all goods retrieved, and all information added to DISC.
• A missing person was found by the CPO team and was spoken with until a police team arrived to take over.
• 22^nd Carried out several requests to move street drinkers from London Road and Cathedral grounds.
• Numerous cases of shoplifters being deterred and in some cased removing stolen items from Offenders. All details have been added to DISC, also the police have been informed of the habitual shoplifters.
• The Barton and Tredworth team were also out today, special attention was paid to the Barber shops and Nail bars, equipment and advice offered to assist them with the Covid 19 rules.
• 23^rd Two males spoken to by CPOs regarding inappropriate comments made to female shop staff, warning issued about their behaviour and drinking in a public space.
• Several shoplifters detained, and police called and took over the incidents.
• Welfare case dealt with, managed to get the person some much needed assistance with agencies.
• 24^th Moved on a group of street drinkers, some of whom were getting quite aggressive towards the CPOs.
• Assisted police with a cordon whilst they dealt with an individual on a carpark roof.
• Missing person reported by CCTV was found and police informed.
• 25^th Street drinkers in London road removed after causing issues with members of the public.
• Young lads removed from playing on the car parks. Advice was given and they moved off.
• A large group of shoplifters were deterred from taking items and were encouraged to leave the store, CCTV were informed, and this group were then monitored around the city.
• 26^thA group of street drinkers at the rear of Long smith’s carpark were moved on after they had been fed by the City Mission people, no issues with them.
• A Wanted female was spotted in town by CPOs, she was reported to CCTV who informed the police, and she was detained and arrested.
• Information about a large party held over the weekend was passed to relevant police agency and added to DISC.
• 27^thBoth the Barton and Tredworth and City safe teams operating today.
• The Barton team patrolled the areas and stores collectively engaging with store staff and members of the public, they also carried out welfare checks with some of the homeless individuals in these areas.
• The city team were called several times during the day to remove street drinkers on London Road, all were spoken to and the issues with the public space and protection order were explained in very basic terms, they then moved elsewhere.
• Several cases of shoplifting were dealt with during the day, one a drunk male stealing alcohol was detained by police. The others were sorted out in store and all details added to DISC.
• Obtained information about a case of harassment which has been passed onto the police system to be dealt with.
• 28^th Removed a rough sleeper who was getting aggressive with a store member who was tasked to remove him, CPOs were called, after explaining that he was in a loading area and that he could be in danger he moved on.
• Called to break up a domestic type of argument, three people were involved were all separated and moved away from the area.
• 29^thRemoved several drinkers from the graveyard areas during the day they just kept returning.
• Street beggar removed from public areas as they are being aggressive in their approach to members of the public.
• 30^th The Farmers market on site, a few stalls were present and well received by the public.
• Street drinkers in public spaces were moved on and had the PSPO explained to all of them by the CPOs.
• The Quays and the Docks area well patrolled, managed to visit most city safe stores and engage with staff and customers.
• Called to assist with several shoplifters who had been caught, all goods retrieved and items from other stores returned. All information will be added to DISC.
• £3,027.37 recovered in stolen goods by CPOs in April 2021