Our joint effort to tackle crime

Over the past month, I have done my utmost to continue meeting with the community and engaging with local leaders in order to strengthen partnerships and improve efficiency and effectiveness across Avon and Somerset.

I recently met local leaders in Glastonbury to discuss the key policing issues in the area.

I want to provide reassurance that I will be doing everything that I can to make sure that the police are working closely with the town council to focus on safeguarding children and tackling County Lines.

Our shared agenda will be to stop the revolving door of reoffending and prevent young people from entering the criminal justice system.

This work will be underpinned by a public health approach, which means intervening at the earliest opportunity to stop young people from spiralling into a life of crime.

I have also been working closely with Somerset County Council to crack down on unauthorised parking and habitation in the Glastonbury area.

Avon and Somerset Police are a member of the Glastonbury Multiagency Group (MAG), which has been set up to tackle the ongoing issues in the town.

Enforcement action was taken on a number of vehicles during the summer, and these measures will be used again to remove any new arrivals.

Towards the end of September, I attended a number of meetings in Cheddar to discuss the ongoing antisocial driving happening in the village and the Gorge.

The visit culminated in a multiagency meeting, held at Cheddar Gorge, to discuss how local agencies can work together more closely in order provide a long-term solution to the problem.

I will continue to work with the police and partners to support local people and make sure that the roads are safe.

Our collective aim is to stop reckless drivers from endangering the lives of the residents of Cheddar and creating misery with their antisocial behaviour.

Finally, the recruitment for the new Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police has now closed!

We will be completing a candidate sift over the coming weeks and conducting interviews in November.