Sadika

If you read their press releases, you'd think that Avon & Somerset
Constabulary were doing an excellent job instead of modelling their
performance on Bristol City Council (Avon & Somerset shares the city
council's reputation of being amongst the country's worst performers
in its field). Of course, I realise they've got a difficult job to do
- one I would not fancy either. While I'm glad they're banging up
miscreants, I'd like to see more of them on the beat rather than
charging round in a gang in a van or disturbing the peace in the early
hours with that blasted helicopter. Other advantages if they did
patrol on foot: they'd pick up intelligence from the public and it
would be lovely to say hello to a plod instead of prostitutes and
pushers (to keep the alliteration going!).

Yours etc.
Steve


--- In easton_bristol@..., "Sadika Perera"
<godamncat@h...> wrote:
> While the shooting going on the Police have successfully done their
duty.
> SP
>
> >From: <internet.mailinglist@a...>
> >Reply-To: <internet.mailinglist@a...>
> >To: <godamncat@h...>
> >Subject: Latest news bulletin: Courts crack down on drug dealers
> >Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2004 11:09:02 +0100
> >
> >COURTS CRACK DOWN ON DRUG DEALERS ( force-wide )
> >
> >Jail sentences totalling more than 116 years have been handed out to
> >dealers of class A drugs in Bristol.
> >
> >The final trial connected with Avon and Somerset Constabulary's
massive
> >Operation Moss initiative ended this week.
> >
> >It brings to a conclusion a major police-led campaign designed to
have a
> >significant impact on the supply of Class A drugs in the city.
> >
> >Operation Moss, a covert police initiative, was reinforced by
Operation
> >Mansion, a multi-agency community campaign.
> >
> >Both were conducted under the umbrella of Operation Atrium, the
force's
> >nationally recognised campaign to target the open drug market and
> >associated organised Jamaican crime network which was the
foundation of
> >Bristol's supply of Class A drugs.
> >
> >The operations resulted in some 70 crimes being detected.
> >
> >In recent years the overt supply of Class A drugs on the streets of
the St
> >Paul's and Easton areas of Bristol rocketed.
> >
> >The local community suffered a dramatic increase in crime caused by
those
> >needing to support their drug habits and the quality of life was badly
> >affected.
> >
> >Operation Atrium saw the arrest of some 1,000 offenders and more
than 300
> >police operations in 18 months.
> >
> >But dealers were becoming aware of `traditional' police tactics
which was
> >not reaching a hardcore of suppliers.
> >
> >Significant surveillance operations and covert tactics were used to
> >identify these dealers, their locations and modus operandi.
> >
> >Operation Moss itself ran between June 9 2003 until July 18.
> >
> >More than 70 deployments of undercover officers were made during a
23-day
> >period.
> >
> >This resulted in significant evidence being obtained against 39
suspects.
> >
> >The planning and preparation for the arrest phase of the operation
took
> >place during the intelligence-gathering work.
> >
> >This planning involved close liaison with and assistance from the
Central
> >District Independent Advisory Group (IAG) as well as media
briefings and
> >consultation within the force.
> >
> >IAG members and representatives of the media were invited to
briefings and
> >to accompany officers on raids.
> >
> >The arrest phase was executed in three stages and proved extremely
> >successful.
> >
> >There were 42 arrests (including some for non-Moss-related
offences, such
> >as immigration matters), 375 seizures of crack and heroin, £11,000
cash
> >recovered, together with a number of firearms.
> >
> >Detective Chief Superintendent Geoff Anderson said: "Operation Moss
was one
> >of the largest operations of its type ever undertaken in the Avon and
> >Somerset force area.
> >
> >"The success of this operation was recognised at Government level.
> >
> >"It has allowed re-generation of the area by the Bristol Police
District
> >and its partners.
> >
> >"However, the community of St Paul's has provided the most satisfying
> >recognition.
> >
> >"Members of the community sent letters of praise to police and
anecdotally,
> >many members of the community believe that Moss is an acronym for
`Make Our
> >Streets Safe'.
> >
> >"The total sentences of more than 100 years have sent shock waves
among the
> >criminal groups operating in St Paul's.
> >
> >"I cannot praise enough the dedication and determination of all those
> >involved in this successful operation.
> >
> >"We should also thank the community groups, residential groups and,
indeed,
> >the general public of St Paul's who, throughout numerous public
meetings
> >and general interaction with the police, demonstrated total support
for the
> >aims and objectives of that operation."
> >
> >Jeff Harrop, chairman of the Central District Independent Advisory
Group,
> >said: "Through careful briefings my IAG was kept aware of many
sensitive
> >policing issues that we often knew in advance of activities which
could
> >well have been likely to create adverse reaction locally.
> >
> >"We were often given the opportunity to comment on potential or
foreseeable
> >risks that we felt could jeopardise the stability of the
communities in
> >which we live.
> >
> >"Equally importantly, the results of operations have been discussed
with us
> >and the thoughts of the IAG sought to ensure that there are no
doubts as to
> >the outcome and, in many cases, the post-operational support that
will be
> >present from the police and other agencies.
> >
> >"The willingness of the police to come together with the community
through
> >an IAG has opened clear roads of communication that allow a
much-needed
> >link with both sides being able to express their thoughts and evolve a
> >wider consideration to each other's views.
> >
> >"There has been an awareness of what police activities were going
on and
> >this was encouraging members of the mixed community to talk to each
other,
> >understand each other and be aware of what is going on."
> >
> >Guy Reid-Bailey, co-chairman of the IAG, said: "The have been big
> >improvements in this area compared to 18 months ago.
> >
> >"People are feeling a lot safer and are not complaining as much as
they
> >used to do.
> >
> >"The presence of extra police on the streets was seen as a safety
matter
> >and provided much reassurance to residents.
> >
> >"There is a far more positive attitude now between local people and
the
> >police.
> >
> >"There is still a lot of work to do, but police have continued to work
> >closely with the local community and community groups to maintain and
> >develop a better relationship."
> >
> >In September, commendations were awarded to police officers and
community
> >groups involved in the operation.
> >
> >The whole community of St Paul's received a Chief Constable's
Commendation
> >in recognition of the support and involvement the community
displayed for
> >the police operation.
> >
> >08/10/2004 11:03:25
>
>http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/newsroom2/news_display.asp?NewsStoryID=387\
4
> >
> >
> >For more information on the Operation Atrium Initiative or to
provide us
> >with information on drug related crime in the area securely and in
> >confidence visit the dedicated atrium section on the site at
> >http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/atrium
> >
> >If you would like to receive futher updates for this story then
please use
> >this link below:
>
>http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/newsroom2/action_news_update_subscribe.asp\
?email=godamncat@h...&storyid=3874
> >
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> >
> >This is an automated e-mail sent by the Internet Department
> >http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk
>
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