Last week (21 August), an operation aimed at reducing fatal and serious injury road traffic collisions (RTCs) was launched in Avon and Somerset.
Known as Operation Tonic, the operation uses an intelligence-driven strategy to identify and apprehend drivers under the influence of drink or drugs, with the objective of taking offenders off the road before they can cause harm.
Road safety is a key area of focus in my Police and Crime Plan and I’m very supportive of this operation to tackle drink and drug driving.
It is shocking that individuals still think it is acceptable to get behind the wheel when under the influence of drink and/or drugs. We all know what the risks are if you choose to drive while under the influence; not only are you putting your own life at risk but also endangering others.
This operation, as well as the wider work of the Roads Policing Unit, will make the roads of Bath safer for everyone.
In other news, partner organisations from Avon and Somerset’s Sexual Violence Therapies Alliance were recently awarded over £1.1 million from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
The successful bid was put together by SARSAS (lead provider), The Green House and Kinergy, along with SafeLink (as previous recipients of this Government funding). This is the largest grant awarded by the MoJ from the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund to date.
The organisations in the Alliance provide support to victims and survivors of sexual violence. The vital work they do supports my priority to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and of course, supporting victims of crime.
The unique nature of the Alliance means local therapeutic services can use their collective resources to offer scalable support for victims and survivors across Bath and the wider region.
Finally, this month’s Performance and Accountability Board (PAB) takes place on Wednesday 30th August at 11:30am. Once again, I will be putting my police and crime questions to the Chief Constable.
The monthly meeting, which is streamed live for local people to join, is an opportunity for me to address concerns that matter most to our communities and hold the Chief Constable to account for delivering policing that is efficient, effective and legitimate.
I look forward to hearing the Chief Constable’s response to questions relating to personal robbery and illegal e-scooters, and I encourage you to tune in to understand the police’s approach to tackling these issues. Watch live from the Avon and Somerset Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner Facebook page.