I would like to start by recognising and thanking Avon and Somerset Police officers for their work keeping everyone safe at summer events across the area.
Their commitment helps ensure a great and safe time is had by all.
We are incredibly lucky that Bath and the wider region is home to so many wonderful celebrations in the summer months, such as the Bath Carnival, Glastonbury Festival and the Bristol Balloon Fiesta.
I know that the police get exceptionally busy during the summer, but the community still rightfully expect a high level of service. The Chief Constable has made assurances that, despite the increase in demand, officers will respond in a timely way.
Moving on, I urge the local community to remain vigilant over an emerging scam involving fake emails purporting to be from mortgage lenders. It has come to my attention that Action Fraud has received 538 reports in two weeks relating to these emails that claim to offer limited-time deals to low-rate mortgages.
Heartless criminals are taking advantage of people’s concerns relating to mortgages to lure them into phishing scams.
The websites set up by criminals disguise themselves as a trustworthy source in order to steal personal and financial data for their own gain. We need to let as many people know that such scams are circulating to ensure we prevent people from falling victim.
Remember if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
If you have doubts about an email or message, contact the organisation directly before sharing any personal or financial information. Do not use the numbers or addresses in the email – use the details from their official website.
Your bank – or any other official source- will never ask you to supply personal information via email. If you have spotted or received a suspicious email, you can forward it to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) – [email protected]
Finally, following the devastating incident of the stabbing in Bristol, I would like to pass on my condolences to the victim’s family and friends who are being supported by specially trained Family Liaison Officers.
Incidents like this will understandably raise concern among the wider community across Avon and Somerset.
I would like to take the opportunity to reassure residents that there are numerous proactive initiatives that continue to support young people, such as educational visits from officers and doctors in schools, knife sweeps and underage purchasing tests. I am also working with Anna Firth MP to ban the sale of Rambo Knives.
The Bath and North East Somerset Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) also works with youth groups and organisations to raise awareness of the dangers and consequences of knife crime.
Policing and partners take a public health approach to knife crime; the local multi-agency approach is led by the council and aims to provide protection and resilience in the wider community with prevention strategies.
If you have any concerns or questions relating to knife crime, please do speak to your local Neighbourhood Policing Team or contact my team via our website.