POLICE DETAILS
Avon and Somerset Constabulary - Bath City Centre Neighbourhood

We are aware of increasing community concern around antisocial behaviour on Kingsmead Square. We have begun engaging with businesses and residents in the area to best understand when problems are occurring, and who is primarily responsible.

The behaviour reported typically involves the street community, use of drink/drugs, with some complaints received about inappropriate language and verbal abuse directed at members of the public.

Patrols are ongoing, including extra patrols funded by the Home Office.

We have a good track record recently of using tools like Community Protection Warnings, Community Protection Notices and Criminal Behaviour Orders to exclude offenders from areas they are impacting. These orders require evidence from the community so we strongly encourage members of the public to report any antisocial behaviour they witness either to officers out on patrol or online: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report/anti-social-behaviour/

 
Patrols have continued throughout the Christmas Market period, with ongoing support from officers on Home Office funded Overtime Patrols, as well as Bath BID Security Marshals.
Despite the increase in footfall we have seen a decrease in reports of crime and antisocial behaviour in the area.
This priority will now be closed, though patrols will remain a part of daily business.

We understand the impact that shoplifting is having on businesses in the City Centre. 

We are working with shops to help them report accurately and effectively, targeting our most prolific offenders.

We are conducting proactive patrols in hotspot areas, and around stores most effected by shoplifters.

We host a monthly Retailers Security Meeting alongside Bath BID. At this meeting we help stores identify regular shoplifters, and bring their attention to any new offenders and offending trends.

Shoplifting Progress:
With the help of the Neighbourhood Tasking Team created in June, we have been hard at work targeting shoplifting in the City Centre.
Theft from Shops and Stalls reported:
July: 69 (2024: 44)
August: 58 (2024: 66)
September: 61 (2024: 61)
October: 51 (2024: 92)
We have also seen an increase in the number of Positive Outcomes achieved in these cases. In July this year the positive outcome rate for shop thefts was 5%, the average positive outcome rate for August/September/October is now at 28%. The average positive outcome rate for the same period last year was 12.3%.

We are committed to making the night-time economy (NTE) a safe place for all in Bath. In particular, we have a focus on ensuring Women and Girls are free from harassment, violence and other offences associated with the NTE. 

September Update – Student Welcome Weeks Activity
Over the course of September BANES NPT engaged with over 1400 young people at 13 events! This included attending several Freshers Fairs in company with Bath BID and the Bath Safe Bus, as well as providing training to staff members at both Bath Spa and University of Bath Students Unions around safety in our Night-Time Economy.
These engagement opportunities came alongside robust operational activity: late night licensing visits with BANES Council, Project Vigilant patrols and a drug trace testing operation at a local nightclub. A taxi licensing operation also resulted in 37 taxis and private hire vehicles being stopped, with three vehicles given immediate licence suspensions.

The above issue is a forcewide priority for Avon and Somerset Constabulary to make women feel safer walking, predominantly after dark, in their communities.

This work ties in closely with our efforts to make our City Centre Night-Time Economy a safer place for all. See our other listed priority for more details:

www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/your-area/bath-city-centre/priorities/safety-in-our-night-time-economy/

September Update – Student Welcome Weeks Activity
Over the course of September BANES NPT engaged with over 1400 young people at 13 events!
We teamed up with Operation Bluestone and spoke to hundreds of women and girls about how they can keep themselves safe, how they can report incidents to us, how they can access support, and what we are doing to tackle violence against women and girls locally.
Over the weekend of 26/27 September we:

Completed a Project Vigilant deployment where extra officers patrolled the streets in hi-vis and plain clothes looking for signs of potential perpetrator behaviour, and assisted in the arrest of a male on the Saturday night.
Completed a drug trace testing operation at a local nightclub, helping to prevent substances that can be used in spiking from entering the venue.
Carried out late night licensing visits with BANES Council, with a special focus on reviewing venues policies in relation to VAWG.
Carried out Taxi Licensing Checks making sure that drivers were properly licensed and their vehicles were in a safe condition. 3 licenses were suspended on the night.

We are working hard to combat drug-related crime and ASB in the City Centre. 

We have recently carried out successful warrants at addresses linked to drug use and dealing with positive results, including: Teenager charged and three others arrested in drugs supply enquiry - Bath | Avon and Somerset Police

Officers have also taken part in training alongside Night-Time Economy partners including Door Staff, Suicide Prevention Volunteers and BID Night Marshals on how to identify, and treat drug overdoses using Naloxone

We regularly patrol hotspots identified as locations where use and dealing takes place. We rely heavily on community led intelligence to inform these patrols, as well as support evidence for warrants to go into addresses. You can report your concerns in person or online at Report drug dealing and use | Avon and Somerset Police

This priority will be closed as we are raising a new priority focusing on ASB around the Kingsmead Square area.

We are committed to making the night-time economy (NTE) a safe place for all in Bath. In particular, we have a focus on ensuring Women and Girls are free from harassment, violence and other offences associated with the NTE. 

Late Night Licensing Visits – January 2026
On the evening of Friday 16th January the City Centre Team joined up with colleagues from Police Licensing, BANES Licensing and the SIA to complete some late night licensing visits around Bath City Centre. Over five hours we visited thirteen venues, and focused on checking door teams all had the correct licences and accreditations.
We are waiting on the outcome of some checks to come back from the SIA and will update this priority in due course.
We would like to thank all the venues that took time out of their busy shift to engage with us.

We understand the impact that shoplifting is having on businesses in the City Centre. 

We are working with shops to help them report accurately and effectively, targeting our most prolific offenders.

We are conducting proactive patrols in hotspot areas, and around stores most effected by shoplifters.

We host a monthly Retailers Security Meeting alongside Bath BID. At this meeting we help stores identify regular shoplifters, and bring their attention to any new offenders and offending trends.

The local policing team are continuing to work with shops to help them report accurately and effectively, targeting our most prolific offenders.
We are conducting proactive patrols in hotspot areas, and around stores most effected by shoplifters.

The above issue is a forcewide priority for Avon and Somerset Constabulary to make women feel safer walking, predominantly after dark, in their communities.

This work ties in closely with our efforts to make our City Centre Night-Time Economy a safer place for all. See our other listed priority for more details:

www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/your-area/bath-city-centre/priorities/safety-in-our-night-time-economy/

November/December Update:
Partner Working with Bath College and Bath BID for 16 Days of Activism. – With a focus on Violence Against Women and Girls this year, we teamed up with Bath BID and Bath College to educate students around the range of things in place around the Night Time Economy to keep them safe, and how they can be an active bystander and help someone in trouble.

We are aware of increasing community concern around antisocial behaviour on Kingsmead Square. We have begun engaging with businesses and residents in the area to best understand when problems are occurring, and who is primarily responsible.

The behaviour reported typically involves the street community, use of drink/drugs, with some complaints received about inappropriate language and verbal abuse directed at members of the public.

Patrols are ongoing, including extra patrols funded by the Home Office.

We have a good track record recently of using tools like Community Protection Warnings, Community Protection Notices and Criminal Behaviour Orders to exclude offenders from areas they are impacting. These orders require evidence from the community so we strongly encourage members of the public to report any antisocial behaviour they witness either to officers out on patrol or online: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report/anti-social-behaviour/

Patrols have continued throughout the Christmas Market period, with ongoing support from officers on Home Office funded Overtime Patrols, as well as Bath BID Security Marshals.
Despite the increase in footfall we have seen a decrease in reports of crime and antisocial behaviour in the area.
This priority will now be closed, though patrols will remain a part of daily business.

We are working hard to combat drug-related crime and ASB in the City Centre. 

We have recently carried out successful warrants at addresses linked to drug use and dealing with positive results, including: Teenager charged and three others arrested in drugs supply enquiry - Bath | Avon and Somerset Police

Officers have also taken part in training alongside Night-Time Economy partners including Door Staff, Suicide Prevention Volunteers and BID Night Marshals on how to identify, and treat drug overdoses using Naloxone

We regularly patrol hotspots identified as locations where use and dealing takes place. We rely heavily on community led intelligence to inform these patrols, as well as support evidence for warrants to go into addresses. You can report your concerns in person or online at Report drug dealing and use | Avon and Somerset Police

This priority will be closed as we are raising a new priority focusing on ASB around the Kingsmead Square area.

We understand the impact that shoplifting is having on businesses in the City Centre. 

We are working with shops to help them report accurately and effectively, targeting our most prolific offenders.

We are conducting proactive patrols in hotspot areas, and around stores most effected by shoplifters.

We host a monthly Retailers Security Meeting alongside Bath BID. At this meeting we help stores identify regular shoplifters, and bring their attention to any new offenders and offending trends.

March Update:
The City Centre Team, working with colleagues from the Bath Outers and Response Teams, have made several arrests in relation to shoplifting offenders over the past month. These include an offender who has been reported to us by businesses and Bath BID as their person of highest concern – Stephen LEWIS who we reported recently had been convicted at Bath Magistrates Court a matter of days after making several thefts from a store.
Additionally, a Community Protection Warning has been issued to a male who repeatedly targeted a store in the City Centre, often being verbally abusive to staff.
We have also developed a patrol plan to assist two different store in the City Centre that have been experiencing particularly high levels of shoptheft and antisocial behaviour – PCSOs are attending both stores throughout the day and working with managers to identify regular offenders and deter further offences.
Finally, we previously reported on social media on February 16th a great result apprehending three shoplifters that were targeting jewellery stores in the city centre. This effort has made possible by accurate, coordinated reported from stores, and partner work from Bath BID that allowed us to locate and arrest the suspects. They are due in court later this month.

We are committed to making the night-time economy (NTE) a safe place for all in Bath. In particular, we have a focus on ensuring Women and Girls are free from harassment, violence and other offences associated with the NTE. 

January/February Update:
During this quieter time of year we have been busy forward-planning for events coming up later this year including remaining Bath Rugby home fixtures, Party in the City, the Football World Cup and Bath Carnival.
We are also continuing to promote StreetSafe and Walk & Talk, two ways you can let us know about places you don’t feel safe –
Report feeling unsafe in public spaces (StreetSafe) | Avon and Somerset Police
Walk and Talk | Avon and Somerset Police
 
 

The above issue is a forcewide priority for Avon and Somerset Constabulary to make women feel safer walking, predominantly after dark, in their communities.

This work ties in closely with our efforts to make our City Centre Night-Time Economy a safer place for all. See our other listed priority for more details:

www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/your-area/bath-city-centre/priorities/safety-in-our-night-time-economy/

January/February Update:
During this quieter time of year we have been busy forward-planning for events coming up later this year including remaining Bath Rugby home fixtures, Party in the City, the Football World Cup and Bath Carnival.
We are also continuing to promote StreetSafe and Walk & Talk, two ways you can let us know about places you don’t feel safe –
Report feeling unsafe in public spaces (StreetSafe) | Avon and Somerset Police
Walk and Talk | Avon and Somerset Police
We are also currently reaching out to running and fitness clubs, particularly those organised and attended by women for some upcoming work we would like to do. If you are interested please reach out to Sgt Mark ROGERS – [email protected]

We are aware of increasing community concern around antisocial behaviour on Kingsmead Square. We have begun engaging with businesses and residents in the area to best understand when problems are occurring, and who is primarily responsible.

The behaviour reported typically involves the street community, use of drink/drugs, with some complaints received about inappropriate language and verbal abuse directed at members of the public.

Patrols are ongoing, including extra patrols funded by the Home Office.

We have a good track record recently of using tools like Community Protection Warnings, Community Protection Notices and Criminal Behaviour Orders to exclude offenders from areas they are impacting. These orders require evidence from the community so we strongly encourage members of the public to report any antisocial behaviour they witness either to officers out on patrol or online: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report/anti-social-behaviour/

Patrols have continued throughout the Christmas Market period, with ongoing support from officers on Home Office funded Overtime Patrols, as well as Bath BID Security Marshals.
Despite the increase in footfall we have seen a decrease in reports of crime and antisocial behaviour in the area.
This priority will now be closed, though patrols will remain a part of daily business.

Over the past few months there was been a large increase in reports of antisocial behaviour around the Snow Hill estate. Predominantly, these reports have come from the Berkeley House block.

The reports have centred around:

• non-residents accessing the blocks
• drug dealing and use
• rough sleeping in communal areas, blocking access up and down stairways or to lifts
• verbal abuse of residents
• littering and mess being left in communal areas

Partial Closure Order Secured:
On July 1st at Bath Magistrates Court, we were successful in our application for a partial closure order for Berkeley House.
Supported by Curo and residents of the block itself, the order is the first of its kind to be obtained against an entire block of flats in the Bath and North East Somerset local policing area.
Full Story: Non-residents banned from tower block in landmark anti-social behaviour crackdown | Avon and Somerset Police

The above issue is a forcewide priority for Avon and Somerset Constabulary to make women feel safer walking, predominantly after dark, in their communities.

This work ties in closely with our efforts to make our City Centre Night-Time Economy a safer place for all. See our other listed priority for more details:

www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/your-area/bath-city-centre/priorities/safety-in-our-night-time-economy/

June Update:
Football World Cup:
Throughout the Football World Cup we have been providing patrols and extra visibility around our licensed premises, engaging with customers and staff to ensure matches are passing safely.
Additionally, on Saturday 27th June we undertook a drugs trace testing operation at a local nightclub in an effort to prevent drugs that can be used for spiking making their way into the venue. In our hour and a half deployment we tested over 50 people. One male aged 19 was stop-searched following a detection by our equipment, and was found to be in possession of suspected Class A drugs.
We would like to thank our local venue staff for their efforts in making the City Centre a safe place to enjoy watching the football so far this tournament.
 
Bath Pubwatch:
Over the past few months we have supported local venues alongside Bath BID in the launch of the new Bath Pubwatch scheme. Aligned with National Pubwatch and lead by a committee made up of local venue managers, the scheme enables participating venues to issue bans for those that regularly cause trouble in the Night Time Economy. While it is still early days for the Pubwatch they have already issued three banning notices.

We understand the impact that shoplifting is having on businesses in the City Centre. 

We are working with shops to help them report accurately and effectively, targeting our most prolific offenders.

We are conducting proactive patrols in hotspot areas, and around stores most effected by shoplifters.

We host a bi-monthly Retailers Security Meeting alongside Bath BID. At this meeting we help stores identify regular shoplifters, and bring their attention to any new offenders and offending trends.

April Update:
In the past month the City Centre Team have worked with our Neighbourhood Tasking Team to arrest and charge several prolific shoplifters.
Split between five offenders we have made a number of arrests that have led to (among others) charges of:
25x Shop Thefts, 5x breaches of Criminal Behaviour Orders, and 1x Burglary.
Two offenders have already been sentenced at the courts and have received almost two years imprisonment between them, and one has been issued with a Criminal Behaviour Order that we applied for in conjunction with our Antisocial Behaviour Team.
The remaining offenders have future court dates set for the coming months.

We are committed to making the night-time economy (NTE) a safe place for all in Bath. In particular, we have a focus on ensuring Women and Girls are free from harassment, violence and other offences associated with the NTE. 

This priority will be closed and merged with “Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls” as there is a significant amount of crossover between these pieces of work.

The Bath City Centre Team have been attending an increased number of calls in relation to youth antisocial behaviour.

With the warm weather and the end of the school year it is only natural that there are more young people in town but unfortunately some of these individuals and groups have become involved in antisocial behaviour and low level criminality - shoplifting, minor assaults and public order incidents, and trespassing in derelict or staff only areas of buildings.

We are working with our ASB Team, our colleagues on the Bath Outers Team, and local schools to identify offenders and deal with them at the appropriate level.

We would ask parents to make sure they know where their children are, who they are with, and to speak to them about these issues - help us set a good standard of behaviour so all members of the public can enjoy their time in the city centre.

July Update: 
Over the course of the last month we have made good progress identifying a key cohort of regular offenders. This group of young males has been responsible for a number of incidents, especially when they are in town together.

Two Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) have been served to two boys with another ABC awaiting service.
An ASB Injunction is being considered for another.

We have also engaged with our Early Interventions Team to begin providing better support and guidance.
These ASB interventions are separate to any ongoing investigations for criminal offences where we are having conversations with the BANES Youth Justice Team about what outcomes are most appropriate for these youths
Separately, a young female was also given a Community Resolution for an incident of public order at Bath Bus Station.

The City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team are aware of an increase in antisocial behaviour around Kingsmead Square over the last month, largely related to members of the street community gathering there.

Kingsmead Square often sees this behaviour increase over the summer or with warm weather. In previous years we have managed this behaviour using antisocial behaviour powers such as Community Protection Warnings/Notices, Dispersal Orders and Criminal Behaviour Orders. We will be taking a similar approach this year with one Community Protection Warning already served and another awaiting service. These orders will prohibit two regular troublemakers from attending this location.

In order to evidence these orders we require reports from the public to demonstrate community impact and concern. We urge anyone affected by this behaviour to give us detailed reports of what they have seen and who the specific offenders are. This can be done through 101 or online: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report/anti-social-behaviour/

Businesses in the City Centre can also use the free DISC app to identify regular offenders to name them in your reports. Being able to attribute behaviour to specific individuals greatly increases the chances of us being able to use these ASB powers effectively.

We will also be showing an increased presence around the square throughout the day as well as at pop-up events like 'Coffee With Cops', check this Beat Page or our social media pages for details.

We understand the impact that shoplifting is having on businesses in the City Centre. 

We are working with shops to help them report accurately and effectively, targeting our most prolific offenders.

We are conducting proactive patrols in hotspot areas, and around stores most effected by shoplifters.

We host a bi-monthly Retailers Security Meeting alongside Bath BID. At this meeting we help stores identify regular shoplifters, and bring their attention to any new offenders and offending trends.

June/July Update:
With the help of our Neighbourhood Tasking Team and our Antisocial Behaviour Team, many of our most prolific shoplifting offenders are either currently serving prison sentences, or are subject to orders that prohibit them from entering Bath City Centre. Over the past few months shoplifting on our beat has reduced from a peak of 101 reports in March, to 43 in June with July on pace for a similar number.
The 43 reports in June were the 4th lowest number of recorded shop thefts in the last 24 months.
This priority will now be closed though we will continue to monitor reports of shop thefts as prolific offenders begin to finish their sentences and are released.
We want to thank the various businesses who supported the cases that enabled these results, especially those that provided impact statements allowing us to seek Criminal Behaviour Orders for the worst offenders.

The above issue is a forcewide priority for Avon and Somerset Constabulary to make women feel safer walking, predominantly after dark, in their communities.

June Update:
Football World Cup:
Throughout the Football World Cup we have been providing patrols and extra visibility around our licensed premises, engaging with customers and staff to ensure matches are passing safely.
Additionally, on Saturday 27th June we undertook a drugs trace testing operation at a local nightclub in an effort to prevent drugs that can be used for spiking making their way into the venue. In our hour and a half deployment we tested over 50 people. One male aged 19 was stop-searched following a detection by our equipment, and was found to be in possession of suspected Class A drugs.
We would like to thank our local venue staff for their efforts in making the City Centre a safe place to enjoy watching the football so far this tournament.
 
Bath Pubwatch:
Over the past few months we have supported local venues alongside Bath BID in the launch of the new Bath Pubwatch scheme. Aligned with National Pubwatch and lead by a committee made up of local venue managers, the scheme enables participating venues to issue bans for those that regularly cause trouble in the Night Time Economy. While it is still early days for the Pubwatch they have already issued three banning notices.

Over the past few months there was been a large increase in reports of antisocial behaviour around the Snow Hill estate. Predominantly, these reports have come from the Berkeley House block.

The reports have centred around:

• non-residents accessing the blocks
• drug dealing and use
• rough sleeping in communal areas, blocking access up and down stairways or to lifts
• verbal abuse of residents
• littering and mess being left in communal areas

Partial Closure Order Secured:
On July 1st at Bath Magistrates Court, we were successful in our application for a partial closure order for Berkeley House.
Supported by Curo and residents of the block itself, the order is the first of its kind to be obtained against an entire block of flats in the Bath and North East Somerset local policing area.
Full Story: Non-residents banned from tower block in landmark anti-social behaviour crackdown | Avon and Somerset Police

We are committed to making the night-time economy (NTE) a safe place for all in Bath. In particular, we have a focus on ensuring Women and Girls are free from harassment, violence and other offences associated with the NTE. 

This priority will be closed and merged with “Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls” as there is a significant amount of crossover between these pieces of work.