Extra police patrols lead to arrests and weapons seizures across Avon and Somerset
More than 10,000 hours of additional patrols were carried out over a year to reduce anti-social behaviour and serious violence in hotspot areas.
Police officers across Avon and Somerset carried out more than 10,000 hours of additional foot patrols between April 2024 and March 2025, resulting in arrests, weapons seizures, and intelligence reports.
The patrols focused on 72 areas where data and community intelligence identified a higher risk of anti-social behaviour and serious violence. Officers made 121 arrests, recovered 13 weapons, carried out 56 stop searches, and responded to 174 anti-social behaviour incidents. Police also submitted 74 pieces of intelligence.
The work formed part of a year-long operation funded by the Home Office’s Hotspot Response Fund. The fund, allocated to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), supported joint patrols by police and local authority street marshals.
On Saturday 29 March, two officers on patrol in Cannon Street, Bristol, saw a group suspected of being involved in a drug exchange. After a short foot chase, a 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply a class A drug. A knife was found nearby, and the man was further arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article in a public place. He was later bailed until 16 May.
Chief Inspector Scott Hill said: “Anti-social behaviour and serious violence are a blight to our communities. Although these offences are committed by the minority, the impact can be huge and wide-ranging, causing harassment, alarm and distress to local people.
“We are here to serve and protect you, and this includes taking proactive measures to make our neighbourhoods safer. Thanks to the Home Office’s Hotspot Response Fund, we’ve had dedicated resources to do this.
“Through the increased visibility of uniformed officers and an intelligence-led patrol plan, we’ve identified known offenders, dealt with crime and anti-social behaviour in action, and listened to concerned community members about the issues they’re facing.”
The operation also included early intervention work delivered in partnership with local authorities. Activities included youth outreach sessions, engagement vehicles offering advice to young people, and training on knife crime and bleed control kits.
Some young people involved in these initiatives went on to support others by becoming mentors in their communities.
Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody said: “This targeted funding is really welcome. It enables our police service and local authority partners to focus on high-priority areas with significant issues related to anti-social behaviour and serious violence. Their increased presence in these communities will continue to provide much-needed reassurance to those who are on the receiving end of these behaviours.”
The operation will continue into 2025/26 using a data-led approach to deploy resources where they are most needed.