Bristol to Bath cycle path robberies reduced
Police have reported a marked reduction in the number of
robberies on the Bristol to Bath cycle path after five arrests
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Bristol to Bath cycle path robberies reduced
and measures to make the route safer.
Patrols were increased along the Easton stretch of the path
with officers on foot and using bikes and motorbikes to cover
the route which saw 14 attacks in a week in May.
The city council's parks department has cut back shrubs so
there are fewer places where muggers can hide and it has meant
the lights along the path have a further range.
The council also plans to improve lighting under a
bridge.
Five people were arrested and four have been charged with
robbery.
Beat manager for the Easton area PC Terry Preece said: "As a
result of the above initiatives, the number of robberies in
June and July has significantly reduced.
"One of the problems has been identifying exactly where on
the track an incident has occurred when a call is received.
"This has delayed the police response times.
"The longer term plan in conjunction with Sustrans will be a
system where there will be numbered markers all along the cycle
track.
"When someone calls in, if they quote this marker number the
police will be able to pinpoint the exact location and be on
the scene much quicker.
"This will also have benefits for the other emergency
services if for example some is taken ill on the cycle
track.
"Although there has been this reduction we would still
recommend that people who use the cycle track take basic
personal safety precautions when using it."
A masked gang armed with baseball bats carried out 14
attacks along the cycle track.
One victim had his jaw smashed and another his head split
open by the youths carrying out the attacks.
In some of the incidents, victims were robbed of their
bikes, mobile phones and wallets, but in others nothing was
taken.
In one attack marine biologist Nicky Simpson, 31, and her
boyfriend Matt Stokes, 32, a solicitor, were beaten with
baseball bats as they rode on the cycle path between Easton
Community Centre and Devon Road.
A gang of eight youngsters, their faces masked with
bandanas, jumped out of bushes and stole their bikes after
smashing Mr Stokes across the back of the head.
12 Comments
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by mark, bristol
Wednesday, January 28 2009, 9:09AM
“I use this stretch of cycle track for my daily commute to and from work. The two weeks after the incidents /media coverage on my journey home I would on average see between 4 and 6 police officers patrolling the path. In the months that have passed however I haven¿t seen one police officer. But have seen more than my far share of toes rags smoking drugs, having fireworks fights, smashing bottles, throwing stone and riding motorbikes surely a daily patrol would be a good thing. I mean the council must be able to afford it they gritted the track all winter and are now resurfacing it so there is obviously money in the pot”
by mark, bristol
Wednesday, January 28 2009, 9:09AM
“I use this stretch of cycle track for my daily commute to and from work. The two weeks after the incidents /media coverage on my journey home I would on average see between 4 and 6 police officers patrolling the path. In the months that have passed however I haven¿t seen one police officer. But have seen more than my far share of toes rags smoking drugs, having fireworks fights, smashing bottles, throwing stone and riding motorbikes surely a daily patrol would be a good thing. I mean the council must be able to afford it they gritted the track all winter and are now resurfacing it so there is obviously money in the pot”
by Anon, Bristol
Saturday, September 06 2008, 5:16PM
“I can assure you that police officers do patrol the cycle track as much as they can. Unfortunately, there are not as many PC's as would be expected, and so are often tied up with many other incidents that happen in the busy Bristol area.
The cycle track has a wealth of people that police would love to stop and search.
Be assured that police do patrol the track, but dont always assume they will be in uniform...”
by Jim, Bristol
Tuesday, September 02 2008, 10:51AM
“The numbered markers are a good idea. So would better lighting and CCTV at the entry / exit points.
But even better would have been for Mom and/or Dad at home to stop their kids on the way out and say 'Where do you think you're going with that baseball bat?' Especially given that nobody actually seems to play baseball in Britain.”
by Pete, Bristol
Monday, September 01 2008, 1:09PM
“I have seen police patrolling the track on a number of occasions in Easton and near Warmley. However, this has been during the day, whereas I think the vast majority of attacks have occured at night/early hours of the morning.”