Carlton Court Flower Shop: Police Seek Man Over Public Order Offence

Avon and Somerset Police have released an image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with an incident at Edith Wilmot Florists at Carlton Court. 

The public order offence took place last Tuesday (October 23rd) around 9.30 in the morning when a man entered the shop and threatened a female member of staff. 

He then left the shop and walked away in the direction of Canford Lane. 

The man pictured is believed to have information about the incident and members of the public who recognise him are asked to contact Southmead police station by dialling 101 or by using the police online form here.  

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Co-op Car Park Happenings

Image via Wikipedia

Two rather different stories from this weekend, both taking place at the Co-op car park on Westbury Court Road.

On Friday early evening, a female office worker returned to her car to find it had been broken into in the car park, around 7.00 pm. She was understandably distressed and was on the phone to the police abut the theft. It is not known whether any items were removed from the vehicle.

On Sunday, I observed a young man dumpster diving in the large red rubbish bin in the same car park. I had often thought this was an obvious spot for a bit of freeganism, but had never actually seen it taking place here. The diver was a young man -  would estimate he was in his early twenties - wearing a pair of red shorts and a tee- shirt and carrying a rucksack. After making his preliminary sweep of the site, he returned and leaned head first into the oversize dumpster in search of edibles. I was surprised how long he remained in an inverted position. His feet and legs only were visible as he rummaged through the co-op detritus. 

The young man emerged with what looked like  a couple of loafs of bread and one or tow other items - all wrapped in their original packaging and all, apparently, fit for human consumption, despite being past their legal sell-by date.

A fellow Westbury resident, who worked at a Clifton branch of Starbucks, tells me that after the cafe closed, unsold food items were regularly placed outside in or next to the bins. Company policy did not allow employees to take food home, or to re-sell or give it away. Which doesn't mean, of course, that people could not help themselves were they so inclined.

 



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North Bristol Burglary Upsurge

A spate of local burglaries has prompted a message from Avon and Somerset Police Inspector Mark Runacres to local neighbourhood watch groups alerting residents to the current problem.

The message reads, "There has been an increase in burglary offences on the Henleaze, Westbury-on-Trym and Southmead beats in recent weeks with offences being committed in the early hours of the morning and access gained to properties via insecure ground floor doors and windows. On some occasions car keys have been taken and vehicles stolen from the driveway. "

Residents are then asked asked to make sure that their homes are secured properly, particularly during hot weather when windows may have been left open during the day.

Trym Tales understands that burglaries have included opportunistic walk-in offenses as well as operations planned to coincide with when householders were known to be away on holiday.

Police patrols have been increased in neighbourhoods that have been targeted, and investigations are on-going to identify and arrest the offenders.

Advice from the Avon and Somerset website on staying secure during the summer are as follows:

• Always secure windows and doors – even in warmer weather and especially at night. If you do want to open a window, never leave it unattended
• Keep small high-value items like your car keys, mobile phone, wallet, handbag and jewellery out of sight, and ensure they can not be seen through cat flaps and letter boxes
• Don't keep pin numbers in your diary, as if your entire handbag and all its contents get stolen criminals know to look for these
• Set light switch timers for when you are out or away on holiday
• Take an interest in the security at the homes of vulnerable family members and look out for your neighbours
• Report any suspicious behaviour. It is common for an offender to checkout a number of properties for entry points before finding a vulnerable home
• Keep photos of your jewellery, take a note of serial numbers and mark your property with a forensic code liquid, like SmartWater.
  

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Filton Bomb Scare

The A38 has been closed both ways at Gypsy Patch Lane this afternoon following the discovery of a suspect package in the area about quarter to four.

The army explosives team are on site, according to Avon and Somerset Police, and a few buildings have been evacuated in the immediate area.

The closure is between Gypsy Patch Lane and Station Road.

Word from the front gate is that there are suggestions that the package was found inside the Rolls Royce factory in the area. Others have claimed it was in the Royal Mail sorting depot on the other side of the dual carriageway.

All traffic, including buses, are being diverted so there is considerable congestion in all approaches though by 6.30 the road had been re-opened, without an explosion, as far as I can gather, so it looks like the whole thing was a hoax.


Post Script: it seems that the only mainstream reporter on site was Martin Jones of Original Radio. You can hear is report from the scene here.

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Canford Lane Incident Tuesday

Two ambulances and three police cars in attendance at 07.30 this morning at Canford Lane in Westbury on Trym.

Young-ish looking man sitting on pavement outside Halifax, opposite Somerfield.

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Find Hannah Saaf

Police have named the owner of the white Ford Focus estate that crashed into a group of children last Friday night, killing 11-year old Sam Riddall.

Police are searching for the owner, Hannah Saaf of Kingsdown, who also goes by the name of Hannah Jewell.

A woman described as white, with blonde hair and in her mid-30s was seen running from the scene of the crash in Eastfield Road.

Hannah's photo can be seen on the Evening Post website here and anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact crimestoppers immediately on 0800 555 111.

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Bristol Graffiti Map Launched

Neil Clark from the University of the West of England has just launched a "definitive" street map of Bristol's graffiti.

Here is is.






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Boy Killed in Hit and Run in Westbury on Trym

An 11-year old boy has been struck by a car and killed in Eastfield Road in Westbury on Trym.

The female driver - described as white, in her mid-30s and with long blonde hair - fled the scene and is being sought by the police in connection with the incident, which is the second fatal hit and run event in Bristol this week, following the death of Troy Atkinson near Cabot Circus seven days ago.

The Westbury on Trym incident occured around 9.15 last night (Friday) and the Evening Post has more details of the tragedy here.

The victim has been named by the police as 11-year old Sam Riddall of Westbury Park.

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Crime in Canford Lane

Driving along Canford Lane this evening, I saw two police cars stop in front of a house near the junction with Falcondale Road and arrest a white youth aged about 20. His arms were spread out across the back of the police car and a female was also present, though not arrested as far as I could tell.

A third police car was parked outside the entrance to Canford Park, blue lights flashing.

Don't know how much of this excitement I can handle.

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Buzzing Around the Police Auction Site

Bumblebee - the police auction site where unclaimed stolen property is sold off to the public - is trying to get known again after years in the doldrums.

Avon and Somerset Police have joined with a number of other forces nationwide in an attempt to gain more profile for the site, the end of the road for stolen items which have proved impossible to link with their owners.

The site's low profile over the years have meant that genuine bargains have often been had by the savvy buyer - though the fact that the buyer collects may prove something of a deterrent to even the most committed bargain hunter.

Proceeds from the site are donated to local charities and schools and current items include 63 bicycles, a Phillips entertainment system, various power tools and a set of men's cufflinks.

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Taxi Swerving in Wellington Hill West

Driving home from some friends' house last night (Sunday) I was concerned to see in my rear view mirror a car driving erratically along Wellington Hill West. It had its lights off, hazard warnings on and was swerving across the road.

Concerned, I pulled over and let it pass, then followed it intending to call the police as it had all the hallmarks of a drink driving incident, although I had the impression that there may have been a struggle going on inside the vehicle as well.

I was surprised, therefore, to see the car (a taxi) swerve into the front driveway of Southmead police station and come to a stop. I was just about to call the police when a marked car, followed quickly by another, drove down Southmead Road and stopped outside the station.

The following news story from the BBC fits the circumstances but not the time, as it was about 10.30 when I witnessed the above incident.

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Assault on Whiteladies Road

Walking down Whiteladies this morning I saw a woman receiving medical treatment from ambulance staff while being questioned by police who had a CCTV van in attendance.

It appeared to me that the woman - whose arm was in a sling and who had blood spattered on her clothing - had been the victim of an assault of some kind.

I hope they find the miscreant responsible.

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The Tale of the Disabled Shoplifter

The Evening Post story of disabled shoplifter Christopher Westcott's daring raid on Tesco Homeplan in Hartcliffe is a fine piece of understated crime reporting and deserves to be read.

The humour in the piece (nice use of the word buggy) simmers away nicely through the opening paragraph:

A disabled shoplifter who tried to escape from a Bristol store with a TV on his electric buggy has been jailed for six months.

Christopher Westcott was spotted driving “at speed” from the Tesco Homeplan shop in Hartcliffe and initially congratulated staff for catching him, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Other instances of wheelchair users committing robberies include:

• In 1996, shop worker Carrie Murray of California was awarded damages of $50,000 when her right thumb and index finger were damaged as a result of inserting her hand into the spokes of a wheelchair being used by a shoplifter
  
• A Florida wheelchair user was recently arrested for theft of $200 worth of meat from a Wal-Mart in the Tampa area. Terry Anthony Putz has 27 prior arrests and three convictions for theft.
• Also in California (Palo Alto) earlier this year, a man held up a bank at the Stanford Shopping Center, brandishing a black handgun while seated in his electric wheelchair. Police are looking for a white male aged about 60 with grey hair and a beard last seen motoring towards a main road nearby. Witnesses say the man's right leg was sticking straight out while he zoomed away.
• George Clooney features as a disabled criminal in the 2003 comedy Welcome to Collinwood.
  

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Rogue Postman in Westbury

Word from the letterbox is that a man is visiting business addresses in the Westbury on Trym area dressed as a postman and taking away the outbound post from the said businesses.

Trouble is, however, that this particular individual is not in fact a genuine postman. The counterfeit courier is after the goodies that are in local business mail outs.

I have not received any physical description of the malefic mailman. If you have seen him or can contribute to the knowledge base on this issue, leave a note via the comments tab.

Remember, real posties carry those beeping devices that scan the bar code on your mail room before they collect the post. So there.

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Sex Offender on the Run in Bristol

A mentally ill sex offender is on the run after escaping this morning from custody while on a trip to the city farm in St Werburghs.

Tamer Mahmoud, 26, is considered "high risk" because he is both a registered sex offender and someone who was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Avon and Somerset Police describe him as 5ft 5ins tall of medium build, with a tanned complexion and dark hair.

He was wearing black sports bottoms, with a white stripe, a black t-shirt and white training shoes.

Anyone with any information concerning his whereabouts should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Drugs Raid at the Foresters

News that the Foresters Arms on Westbury Hill has been raided by police is a mixed blessing for local residents.

On the one hand, the police have responded to a growing number of complaints from local residents about drug dealing and anti-social disorder based in and around the pub and have arrested three people on drug and other charges during last Friday's raid.

On the other hand, the number of arrests is fairly small compared with the high level of (alleged, yawn, yawn) drug dealing that has been taking place at the pub in recent months and this will not have been stopped through one raid. The fact that the police have now acted may, unfortunately, lead to less police activity in the future as resources are targeted elsewhere.

The official police PR on the raid emphasises the message of the police's responsiveness:

"Local residents literally applauded the officers as they carried out this operation" according to Mark Jackson, the police's north Bristol neighbourhood inspector.

"By holding meetings with residents they have been able to tell us what they want our priorities to be. This pub was one of them.

"I hope this has shown that we listen to our community's concerns and act upon them to solve the problem."

The reality, of course, is that after the dramatic sight of two police minibuses shutting off the road around the war memorial and large numbers of officers entering the pub and detaining those inside, the Foresters was open on Saturday morning and it was business as usual, in every sense of the word.

Comments on the Evening Post web site related to this story vary from the "Well done police" to "Westbury snobs are all nimbys".

Local residents who want to meet with the local police and express their views on the matter can do so this Friday night (June 20th) when the next monthly PACT meeting takes place from 7.30
at Waitrose, Northumbria Drive, Henleaze.

All members of the public are welcome to attend or can register their views online here.

For the record, Trym Tales supports the active disruption through all legal means of the use and supply of all currently controlled drugs and the active implementation of all existing legal means to reduce the consumption and misuse of currently legalised drugs (such as alcohol).

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Bedminster Murder Enquiry

Driving across the city this evening, I turned a corner and found myself facing about a dozen police officers, the first three of whom were standing in the road and stopping the traffic.

My immediate thoughts, fearful person that I am, were "Is the insurance up to date and are the tires bald?"

The police, of course, had bigger fish to fry and were stopping motorists on St John's Lane in Bedminster to ask whether they had been in the area at the same time last Saturday when Alan Riddock was brutally attacked outside the Park House pub around 8 pm. Father of two Mr Riddock died of his injuries later that night at Frenchay Hospital. His companion who was also attacked is recovering from his injuries.

Police have charged Luke Churchley, aged 19, with murder, and released on bail pending further enquiries a 30-year-old man and 27-year-old man. On Friday, three more men were arrested in connection with the murder.

Despite the arrests, the police this evening were still keen to speak to witnesses who may have been in the area last Saturday night and have not yet spoken with police.

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Henleaze Graffiti Stopped?

Police have arrested 7 local teenagers in connection with a spate of graffiti in the Westbury on Trym and Henleaze areas.

Their work seems to have been centred around the tag "9-11 inside job" which has appeared on walls, pavements and telephone exchange boxes. The repair bill for their work runs into thousands of pounds.

The arrests followed a member of the public who saw the youths committing an act of vandalism and photographed them. The police then followed up the evidence and took action. A combination of cautions and final warnings have been given to the 7 and, so far, no further graffiti has appeared in the area.

The person who took the initial photograph is to be thanked. There are enough news stories around to illustrate that there are risks associated with such actions.

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Andrew Ibrahim, the Police and the Muslim Community in Bristol

The Muslim communities in Bristol have appeared in a positive light in recent weeks as they have been dragged into the media spotlight in connection with the arrest and subsequent charge of Westbury on Trym resident Andrew Ibrahim.

Immediately distancing themselves from the individual's alleged actions, it also emerged that the initial police tip off may have come from one or more concerned Muslim residents.

Today's statement from the Council of Bristol Mosques is very supportive of the police, unequivocal in its denouncing of terrorism and sympathetic to Westbury on Trym residents whose lives have been disrupted by recent events. You can watch the statement being read by CBM representative Zaheer SHABIR here.

Bristol's mosques have never had a reputation for fanaticism, a fact which all Bristolians can be pleased about. Bristol's Mosques are located in:

• St Mark's Road, Easton
• Roman Road, Easton
• Green Street, Totterdown
• Lower Cheltenham Place, Montpelier
• 14 Alfred Place, Kingsdown
• Stapleton Road, Eastville
  

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Andrew Ibrahim Charged

Details of the charges laid against Andrew Ibrahim, also known as Isa Ibrahim, are as follows:

1) Possession of an Explosive Substance with Intent, contrary to section 3 (1)(b) of Explosive Substances Act 1883

Andrew Philip Michael IBRAHIM/Isa IBRAHIM between the 1st day of January 2008 and the 18th day of April 2008 unlawfully or maliciously made or had in his possession or under his control an explosive substance namely Hexamethylene Triperoxide Diamine with intent by means thereof to endanger life or cause serious injury to property in the United Kingdom.

2) Engaging in Conduct with the Intention to Commit Acts of Terrorism contrary to section 5(1) of the Terrorism Act 2006

Andrew Philip Michael IBRAHIM/Isa IBRAHIM between the 1st day of January 2008 and the 18th day of April 2008 with the intention of committing acts of terrorism engaged in conduct to give effect to his intention to construct and detonate an improvised explosive device.

3) Possession of Articles for Terrorist Purposes, contrary to section 57(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000

Andrew Philip Michael IBRAHIM/Isa IBRAHIM on the 17th day of April 2008 had in his possession a CD Rom, two home made vests, a quantity of ball bearings, a quantity of air gun pellets, a quantity of nails and screws, wired circuitry, batteries and electric bulb filaments in circumstances that gave rise to a reasonable suspicion that his possession was for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

Passed into law in 1883, The Explosive Substances Act precedes all current terrorist legislation and creates offenses of causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property or doing any act with intent to cause such an explosion. Andrew Ibrahim has been charged under section 3(1)(b) of the Act which refers to

Making, possessing or controlling an explosive substance with intent to cause an explosion likely to endanger life

The charge, therefore, is more specific than a mere intention to act but involves the actual possession of an explosive substance which was intended to be used to kill or maim and carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Sentencing has ranged between 25-35 years for individuals found guilty of this offense in recent years.

The Act (albeit a different section of it) formed part of the basis of the charges brought against Iraqi-born doctor Bilal Abdullah in connection with the bomb attacks in London and Glasgow Airport in 2007 and also those brought against former BNP activist Tony Lecomber in 1985. More recently, BNP members Robert Cottage and David Jackson were charged under the Act and acquitted at a retrial in July 2007.

In the case of Andrew Ibrahim, the police have made public the substance in question which they allege he intended to use to cause an explosion. Hexamethylene Triperoxide Diamine is an organic chemical compound historically used in mining and sensitive to heat, friction or shock.

The two charges under the Terrorism Act 2006 allege that Andrew Ibrahim did not merely possess an explosive substance with intent to use it but that he also acted in such a way as to prepare its use as an act of terror. Again, the police have been chillingly open in the amount of detail given, alleging as they do that Mr Ibrahim, a former student of Colston's School in Stapleton, possessed "two home made vests" along with ball bearings, nails, etc. which, it is alleged, he intended to use for terrorist purposes.

The Terrorist Act also carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

This post is submitted in line with the request by the police for the media to act responsibly in reporting these alleged charges, to recognise that Mr Ibrahim is innocent until proven guilty and to avoid at all costs any reporting that might prejudice the due process of law.
Comments that adhere to these guidelines are welcome.

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