Spoiled Ballot Papers in the Avon and Somerset PCC Elections

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One aspect of last week's elections for Police Commissioners that has received limited attention is the high number of spoiled ballot papers.

Figures released on the Bristol City Council website reveal that of 244,042 ballot papers counted, 9,190 were rejected by the returning officer. This means that 3.77 % of those who went into the polling booth last Thursday spoiled their voting papers for Police and Crime Commissioner in Avon and Somerset. 

Alan Renwick from the University of Reading has calculated that nationally, spoiled ballots in the recent PCC elections made up 2.9% of votes cast. This compares with an average of 0.3% at recent general elections. Last week's poll clearly represented a massive increase in spoiled papers.

If we look more closely at the figures for Bristol itself (one of the nine local authorities that make up the Avon and Somerset Police Authority) a hefty 6.35% of all ballot papers were rejected/spoiled - 5,645 in total. 

How can we explain the fact that Bristol voters spoiled their PCC ballots at more than double the national rate? Or that over 20 times more voters in Bristol chose to spoil their ballots than is typically the case for general elections nationally? If we look at spoiled ballots for the mayoral referendum in May this year, by contrast, only 264 papers were rejected out of 76,000 votes cast. And for the mayoral election itself last week, only 1.24% of papers were spoiled. It was the PCC ballots that were targeted in vast numbers by thousands of the electorate.

Alan Renwick suggests that the voting papers themselves may have been one factor nationally, with their supplementary vote system causing confusion to some. Though this was undoubtedly a factor, it surely cannot fully explain the massive incidence in ballot spoiling in Bristol. If this were the case, we would expect to see a much higher incidence of rejected papers for the mayoral election, with its eclectic mix of 15 colourful candidates, compared with only four nominees for the PCC role.

More probable is that large numbers of Bristol voters were unhappy with the whole idea of elected Police and Crime Commissioners. Renwick's analysis of the national scene is again relevant:

"The perception is that some voters expressed their disagreement with the idea of politicising the police by deliberately casting an invalid vote"  

Anecdotally, Renwick also notes that

"Many observers at the 41 counts around England and Wales saw ballots with mini-essays on them."

Turnout locally was 27.9% for the mayoral vote and 19.59% for the PCC poll. The election of an Independent Mayor and an Independent Police Commissioner suggests that those who did vote last week used the opportunity to register their preference for a change of direction in Bristol's politics. This independent-mindedness also found expression in the massive number of spoiled ballots in the city itself. 

And quite what the implications of this might be for future city council elections and the next national poll is, frankly, anyone's guess. A national party that promised to abolish the PCC role might pick up floating voters at the next general election. 

At the very least, it's probably not a bad time to be an independent.

 

 

 

 

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Teenager Knocked from her Bike by Refuse Collection Vehicle in Westbury Park

I was driving into Bristol on Tuesday morning (November 6th) when the traffic ground to a halt. Not at the usual place - north of White Tree Roundabout. And not because of the new now-shortened bus lane on Westbury Road.

The delay was to the south of White Tree and was caused by the large number of cars trying to drive in both directions along Clay Pit Road. Normally, traffic coming up Redland Road does not turn left into this road, continuing instead onto Westbury Park and White Tree Roundabout.   

The reason for the congestion became clear when I reached the end of Clay Pit Road. Westbury Park itself was closed off and there were several emergency vehicles in attendance following a collision between a teenage female cyclist and a large yellow refuse collection vehicle.

The collision had occurred at the top end of Westbury Park, between St Christopher's School and the junction with North View.

The police later released a statement about the incident, saying that the woman cyclist had suffered "serious injuries" and had been taken to Frenchay Hospital.

No further details are known at present.

In the meantime, the terrible incident highlights the risks involved when cycles and lorries are required to share the same congested road space, especially at junctions. Does the present cycle lane at the top end of Westbury Park make this kind of occurrence more or less likely in the future?   

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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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Undercover police in Bristol’s new Costa « Bristol Culture

Undercover police in Bristol’s new Costa « Bristol Culture

A disturbing first-hand account of a plain clothes police officer quizzing a fellow blogger who had taken two photographs of the new Costa cafe on Gloucester Road. Read the story here.

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Stokes Croft Riot: What Took Place Hour by Hour?

The following is an attempt to piece together the events surrounding the Stokes Croft Riot last week, as they unfolded, drawing on eye-witness descriptions, blogs, media reports, police statements, video and photographic evidence and social media updates.

This is not an overt interpretation of the events, or a comment on their causes. It is simply an attempt to discover as many of the key facts, as far as that is possible. Any omissions or corrections are invited via the comments button.

Thursday 21st April

Mid-afternoon

Writing on Indymedia, Caoimhin states that "bailiffs and a man from Bristol City Council"  arrived at the ‘Telepathic Heights’ squat on Stokes Croft to begin an eviction. According to the report, "a protest quickly gathered and the bailiffs were forced to withdraw." Source.

4.15 pm

Local LibDem councillor Jon Rogers claims in his Twitter feed (retrospectively) that in briefings he received from the police, a report of a petrol bomb at the squat was received via a police officer in the area:

"Alleged sighting reported at 16:15. Understand it was police that had spotted, but may have also been Tesco staff. "


"Beat police on scene at 16:15, petrol bomb suspected, police plans made, 20:30 raid on squat."


"Police confirm police operation started at 21:15 not 20:30 as I had been briefed. " Source.

8.30 pm

Anti-Tesco activist Mal had been maintaining a peaceful protest outside the Stokes Croft store during the day. Around 8.30 pm she claims that one of the security guards working at the Tesco store said to her, "They've got petrol bombs over there!" referring to the squat known as Telepathic Heights opposite the Tesco Store. Source.

9.15 pm

Police officers from Avon and Somerset Police closed Cheltenham Road in order to secure the area around the squat. The police claim that they received intelligence on the day itself (April 21st) that there was an immediate "danger to the local community." Source. 

Tom (no surname) told Radio 5's Victoria Derbeyshire programme that road blocks were  set up at the junctions where Cheltenham Road meets Arley Hill, and further down at the junction of Cheltenham Road and Ashley Road. Source. 

Jon Rogers states that there were three police vans involved in this initial operation, with three additional vans of officers held in reserve. Source.

Having secured the road, police officers forced their way into the building and arrested four people. Three were arrested on suspicion of public order offences and the fourth on suspicion of threats to cause criminal damage with intent to endanger life. Source.

Gavin Houghton, a resident of the squat, says that he saw 30 to 40 police outside the building, in riot clothing. On storming the property, Houghton claims, "one of the officers barged me in the face with his shield and pushed me across the room and told me to sit down on the floor. Whilst he was pushing me I said, 'Leave me alone, I'm not doing anything to you.' Then he started shouting, 'Sit there, don't move.' Source. 

Houghton claims that the residents of the squat were not involved in an anti-Tesco campaign and that they had no intention of attacking the store with petrol bombs or otherwise. Source.

Jon Rogers notes (retrospectively) from his police briefing that three of those arrested were "at or near the property" that was raided and that only one person was arrested "inside" the squat.  Rogers notes that "Early police press release inaccurate." Source.

9.30 pm - 4.30 am

A police helicopter was deployed overhead throughout the operation. Source

The police say that eight arrests were made during the course of the night and that eight police officers were injured and required hospital treatment. Injuries to police officers included head, neck and shoulder injuries and twisted ankles. One officer had teeth knocked out. Source.

9.30 pm

During and after the initial police operation at  Telepathic Heights, a crowd started to gather close to the area sealed off by the police. Source.

Neurobonkers, a post-graduate student who lives in the area, says he saw "approximately 10" police vans in the cordoned off area around this time. Source.

10.00 pm

Nick Jones (a resident) reports that from "about 10 or 10.30" bottles and stones started to be thrown by some members of the crowd at the police lines. He refers to a black recycling box being overturned and the bottles inside it being used. Source. 

The police also claim that minor fires were started at this time on and around the road. The official police estimate of the crowd at this time is around 300. It is after this initial phase of confrontation that the police claim they called for backup from neighbouring forces. 

"When 300 people congregated and a small minority from that group started small fires and throwing bottles, stones and other items at officers, we used well-rehearsed plans, which involved the use of officers from neighbouring forces to control what had become a volatile situation," said ACC Hansen. 

The police note that 66 of the officers deployed that night were from neighbouring forces, of an official police total of 160. Source.

Caoimhin says that "the police used baton charges, dogs, horses and vans to repel these sporadic and rather ineffectual attacks" during this phase. Source.

11.00 pm

The spate of stone and bottle throwing appears to have died down. A "party-like" atmosphere appears to have broken out. Oli Connor arrived around this time. He claims there were around 160 police officers on the scene:

"When I arrived at the scene everything was relatively peaceful. The police were holding a line to prevent people reaching Telepathic Heights and members of the public were asking them what was happening and why there were so many officers. The mood began to take on the feel of a small festival, the crowd cheered when somebody started playing some R & B music through a small sound system."

Neurobonkers reports (from the Ashley Road end of the police cordon) reports a slightly different scene around this time:

"The police charged violently in to a street full of bystanders in reaction to a violent onslaught by a small group throwing bottles. The reaction of my neighbours made me proud. When the police entered Picton street and pushed everyone that was stepping outside to see what was going on to the end of the street everyone calmly sat on the floor and began singing peace songs. The police clearly got a call for backup from their colleagues who had continued to charge down St. Andrews road (for a good 7-800 metres). What happened next was fantastic, the police calmly walked backwards out of the street. As the police began to retreat someone hung a boombox out of the window and played “Beat it” by Michael Jackson. The crowd joined in and serenaded them out. Serenaded isn’t the right word but you get the gist." Source. 

Meanwhile, on Ashley Road, Omar Ashaq, the owner of Supermasriq stores, said he had been stranded in his shop from about 11pm. "I looked about the window and there were people throwing bottles and burning bins. I dropped the shutters and locked the door." Source.

Friday 22nd April

00.15 

Avon and Somerset Police release a news item confirming that the original operation has taken place and that a number of items have been removed from the squat - "including possible petrol bombs." Source.

00.30 am
 
Caoimhin reports that the police started to make "forays" up Nine Tree Hill, reaching as far as the traffic barriers at Fremantle Square "where for a short period they formed a shield wall and then retreated." The result of this tactic, it is claimed, was "to cause a violent overspill into Kingsdown, where more bottles could be thrown, bins overturned and set on fire." Source.

A similar tactic appears to have been used on Ashley Road and on Picton Street during this phase of the disturbance,.Neurobonkers reports:

"I was on the junction of stokes croft high street when the police charged what was only at that point a croud (sic) of about 100 but which quickly grew down Ashley Road pretty much all the way to the end of it over the course of a couple of hours. Due to the absolute confusion a number of people had emerged from their houses only to shortly find they were the wrong side of a road block and got roped in to what became a three hour running battle through pretty much all of the back streets coming off Ashley road croft and in to St Pauls, numerous burning barricades were erected and a huge amount of people were battered and bloodied by police for attempting to approach police lines to get home and find friends. By this point there was devastation everywhere. All junctions were blocked by overturned glass bottle dumpsters and makeshift neighbourhood roadblocks." Source.



Adam Ford was also in Ashley Road at this time. He reports fighting moving deeper into St. Pauls and two lines of barricades and bins being set on fire on Brigstocke Road. He observed some local black youth taking part at this stage. He also notes both support and criticism being expressed by several older residents, some of whom lived in the area during the St Pauls riot of 1980. Source.

01.00

A "different section" of people turned up and "it developed from there,"according to local resident Nick Jones.

Further waves of bottles and stones were thrown at the police, who were still holding a line on the Cheltenham Road before breaking and pursuing those involved. Jones reports running battles up and down the road and some of the rioters carrying "weapons". The context of the claim suggests these may have been poles or extended pieces of wood or metal. (Nick Jones, source.)

Leo Nikolaidis, a Bristol University graduate and former contributor to Venue magazine, describes being "on the bottom of Ninetree Hill and some pretty big bricks were smashing through and bouncing off police vehicle windows." He says that very few of those taking part had covered their faces at this stage. Source.

Oli Connor notes that some of the crowd began erecting barriers made of dust bins and large pieces of wood, though he does not state exactly where these were placed.  He also describes youths in masks appearing at this stage. 

"One began tying the barricade together with rope and using another rope as a trip wire. The crowd started chanting 'our streets' and others from the neighbourhood came out to see what was happening. "  

Connor further reports the police storming forwards, shouting. He himself  ran away but saw others trip over the barricade and several hit by riot shields and police batons. He adds, "Anyone who tried to help the fallen met with a similar punishment." Source.

01.30? am

Connor: reports seeing "a seemingly unconscious man being dragged across the floor by two police officers as if he was a doll, his face covered with blood."


He also claims that the police attempted to leave around this time but were "kettled" by the large number of protesters who surrounded the police vans.


Nikolaidis also describes police officers in riot gear crowding into their vans for protection at this stage. Source.


Neurobonkers also reports the police on Cheltenham Road retreating into their vehicles around this time:

"The police started making arrests and then all hell broke loose. Missiles began coming down from youths who'd climbed on to the buildings surrounding the Metropolis (Jesters)  and police brought out dogs to clear people from the street, quite a few got bitten. Meanwhile a lot of police vans had their tyres let out. At that point the dogs retreated and the convoy of about 10 vans that were surrounded drove at speed through the crowd clipping a large number of people on their way out. Both Tesco and telepathic heights were abandoned by the police." Source.



As police exited these vans, Connor claims that protesters sat down in front of them, linking arms. He claims that the police attacked several of these protesters with riot shields and by kicking them. He refers to seeing several female protesters "lying on the floor crying with bloody faces." Source.


Connor also claims that his phone was smashed by a police officer during this phase and that his girlfriend was "smacked aggressively" by police riot shields as she tried to retrieve it.


Connor reports that the police eventually left the immediate area of the squat after the above confrontation, by driving their vans through the crowd.


As the crowd cheered their departure, a shout of "To Tesco!" was heard from within the crowd. Masked individuals with metal bars and other objects began smashing the glass at the front of the store, while the crowd cheered and applauded.


Later on, as the police had retreated to Stokes Croft itself, "the police started making arrests and then all hell broke loose. Missiles began coming down and police brought out dogs to clear people from the street, quite a few got bitten. Meanwhile a lot of police vans had their tyres let out. At that point the dogs retreated and the convoy of about 10 vans that were surrounded drove at speed through the crowd clipping a large number of people on their way out. Both Tesco and telepathic heights were abandoned by the police." Source.












A report from the Bristol Anarchist Federation claims that during this phase, and following the attack on Tesco's, a police vehicle was also "smashed" and a police trailer looted of its riot equipment. Following this, a skip was dragged into the road, apparently in an attempt to limit the movement of police vehicles in the street. The site further claims that Tesco was invaded a second time and that objects were thrown from adjacent rooftops at the police. It is unclear whether this account is first-hand. Source.




2.00 am?

Caoimhin observed ongoing running battles between police and citizens, claiming that by this time the crowd consisted not only of "anarchists" but young people "of all social classes and ethnic backgrounds." He (?) also observed some older people taking part and several children as well. Source.

Adam Ford places the first attack on Tesco's around this time (2.30) - rather later than the time suggested by other witnesses or participants. he also notes a police car being set on fire at the same time. Ford agrees that the main focus of the riot after this event was at the junction of Ashley  Road and Stokes Croft, "when people were throwing staff from the Ninetree Hill down on the vans, trying to join the rest of us." Source. 

It may have been during the attack on Tesco's that a window panel at Fred Baker Cycles was smashed. The store is next door to the new Tesco. Store manager Geoff Gardiner says that "Plate glass of that size will cost about £600 to repair." The shop was forced to close the next day, resulting in a significant loss of trade: "On a nice, sunny Good Friday like this we could have done some good trade. If we can't open again tomorrow, that's £6,000 or £7,000 we've missed out on." Further damage was done to the Bristolian Café on Picton Street Source. 

 

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3.00? am

Connor attends the Accident & Emergency department of an unnamed hospital to receive treatment for a "head injury" caused by a "stray brick" which required stitches. Source.


At the hospital, Connor claims to meet several other injured people. These include:

• A 17 year old who had tripped over the makeshift barricades as the police moved forward around 1.00 am. He says that while on the floor he had been hit with a baton across the face and on the back of his head. Connor describes a "large bloody wound on the back of his head" and his face being "blue and swollen." He also had a large bruise on his arm, resulting from him being struck as he tried to defend himself from the police.
• A man with bite marks from a police dog. 
• A man who had been "clubbed around the head" who claimed that he had only been in the area because he was trying to buy some milk from local shops.
• A man with a suspected broken foot claims that it was driven over by a police van. 

09.41


Avon and Somerset Police release a statement, including the claim that the items recovered from the squat included "petrol bombs – which are currently being forensically examined." Source.





Tuesday 26th April


10.45 


Avon and Somerset Police release details of those arrested during the disturbances and original operation:

• A 16-year-old youth from Bristol, arrested on suspicion of affray. He has been released on police bail, pending further enquiries.
• A 27-year-old man from Bristol, who was arrested on suspicion of affray was given a police caution.
• A 31-year-old man from Bristol, arrested on suspicion of violent disorder was released on police bail, pending further enquiries.
• Steven Brand, aged 19, from Frome, who was arrested on suspicion of burglary has been charged to appear at Bristol Magistrates Court on May 17.
• A 19-year-old man from Bournemouth, who was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder, was released without charge.
• On Saturday morning four people arrested appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court:
• Josef Janacek, aged 26, of no fixed address pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and was sentenced to a 12 month conditional discharge
• Joseph Foster aged 20, of no fixed address, who was charged with having an article with intent to destroy/damage property and threats to destroy/damage property has been remanded in custody to appear at Bristol Magistrates Court on Thursday (April 28).
• Oliwia Torres, aged 24 years of Bristol, who was charged with affray and released on bail to appear at Bristol Magistrates Court on June 17.
• James Hutton, aged 40, of Bristol was charged with violent disorder and has been remanded in custody to appear at Bristol Magistrates Court tomorrow (Wednesday April 27).

Images Stringberd.

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On Carrying Your Licence While Driving

Image via Wikipedia

This from Steve Williams, aka MotoringLawyer via Twitter, on my question about whether motorists are required to carry their licences when driving.

"No that's nonsense. Required to produce within 7 days. Police advised me not to carry in car for security!"

So, a lawyer specialising in motoring law tells me that the law does not require me to carry the documents with me while driving. Meanwhile, as reported yesterday, a police officer who stopped me on Whiteladies Road assured me that I was required to carry my licence (both parts), MOT certificate, and insurance certificate every time I was out and about in my vehicle.

Which shows the value of knowing your rights, as without such knowledge, it appears that the police are not always accurate in informing us of them.

Perhaps I will contact Avon and Somerset Constabulary for further comment and clarification.

But first, I'll wait till they get back to me on my previous question on the use of "kettling" during the recent student demonstrations in Bristol.

One thing at a time.

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Legally Speaking

Driving back from town yesterday, I was stopped by a police officer who handed me a leaflet about Operation Tonic, the campaign by Avon and Somerset Constabulary to reduce drink driving. I had forgotten that this is an annual occurrence in early December on Whiteladies Road - education and awareness raising first, followed by a proper crackdown nearer Christmas.

In the course of the conversation with the officer, I was asked if I had my driving licence with me.

When I said I did not, I was politely informed that I was required to carry my licence (both parts), my MOT certificate and my insurance certificate whenever I drive anywhere.

I didn't know this was the law.

Does anyone know whether this is correct, and if so, when these requirements were enacted?

I'll be investigating further.

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Tesco Stokes Croft Protest

Spent the morning in a professional capacity covering the attempted eviction of a group of squatters from the former Jesters Comedy Club on Cheltenham Road.

They are protesting about the building's planned development into a Tesco store.

You can read about what happened here, see a selection of photos I took here and see the entire set of over 100 images at the Redland People facebook page here.

On a related note, I am surprised that on the official press release by Avon and Somerset Constabulary announcing the eviction (here) the force find it necessary to assist Tescos in their PR campaign by quoting a Tesco spokesman uncritically in connection with the company's desire to open the controversial store.

The police press release included the following:

A Tesco Spokesperson said: "We're keen to invest in the area. Many local people we've spoken to tell us they are eager to see a Tesco Express at this site. Our store will create approximately 20 new jobs and provide shopping facilities for hundreds of local residents."

It's one thing for the police to enforce the decision of a court (which is part of their job); when they act as a mouthpiece for a huge company which is widely disliked and criticised by people from a range of social and economic backgrounds, it seems to me that the force has stepped over the wrong side of a line and manifested a poitical bias.

If in doubt, ask yourself when it was that you last heard a saw a police statement uncritically quoting Friends of the Earth.

Examples of law-abiding middle class people opposing Tescos can be found here and here.

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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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Drugs Raid in Bradley Stoke?

Reports are emerging of a police operation in the Baileys Court area of Bradley Stoke with neighbours reporting a police van, uniformed and plain clothes police and a dog unit on site since this morning.

Speculation is over a possible drugs raid.

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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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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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Fat Boy Sim

Making my way to work yesterday on the number 1 bus from Somerfield in Westbury on Trym to Whiteladies Road, I found myself sitting just behind two passengers who were having a disagreement.

The larger of the two was waiting at the bus stop on Canford Road and boarded the bus with his mobile firmly placed to the side of his head. His conversation continued from entering the bus through to his departure on Blackboy Hill.

Tension arose when the gentlemen, who was of some girth, adjusted his position in order to fit more comfortably onto the double bus seat he had occupied. The woman next to him - well spoken and silver haired - clearly felt inconvenienced by this movement and proceeded to adjust her own position in such a way as to communicate her displeasure at being in quite such close proximity to her fellow passenger.

The phone man, who was continuing his conversation uninterrupted, expressed surprise through his facial expression at the movement of the senior citizen next to him. This gesture afforded his neighbour the opportunity to make her feelings more explicit:

"You're taking up too much of the seat. I don't want to move for you. You've got a problem," were, I think, her exact words.

Clearly surprised, her fellow traveller proceeded to explain to his mobile what was happening.

After an uncomfortable few minutes, during which my fellow passengers stared hard into their copies of The Metro in that way that made it obvious they were not reading them but were listening intently for the drama to develop, the two passengers exchanged unflattering opinions about one another while the larger (and younger) of the two provided a running commentary on the proceedings to his Motorola.

Although I was not able to catch every word, I do recall him explaining to his friend on the other end of the phone that he was required, among other things, to attend the local police station that day in order to register his whereabouts with the officers - a detail which sent a frisson of nervous excitement through the attentive passenger body, who had now lowered their Metros and were fully attentive to the proceedings unfolding in suburbia.

The culmination of the discussion was when the portly passenger made his exit from the bus. Both travellers had clearly been preparing their final salvos for just this event. Hers consisted of, "You're a very rude and unpleasant person." His was more double-edged: "Have a nice day; though with a face like that I'm surprised you had the courage to come out."

A murmur of low level conversation around the bus followed the conclusion of these proceedings, during which time the senior citizen explained to a woman behind her that her former travelling companion had announced into his phone that he was suffering from a sexually transmitted disease - a claim I did not hear myself, but one which afforded me just that bit too much detail at that time of the morning.

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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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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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