Officers from the local Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) are currently conducting high-visibility patrols in areas where anti-social behaviour (ASB) has been reported. These locations include the Lake Grounds, High Street, and Wyndham Way. The purpose of these patrols is not only to deter individuals from engaging in ASB but also to identify those who may benefit from further interventions, including support from partner agencies.

In addition, on 16 June 2025, the North Somerset Neighbourhood Directorate welcomed a significant addition to our policing team. Eight police constables and one sergeant have joined the newly established Neighbourhood Tasking Team. This expansion represents a substantial boost to our NPT capacity. These officers will be undertaking additional high-visibility patrols and addressing the issues that matter most to our communities.

As part of the new initiative, Keeping Town Centres Safe this Summer, the team will focus on reducing street crime, shop theft, and anti-social behaviour in the town centres of Weston and Portishead.

Retail theft remains a significant issue across the country, with businesses—from small independent shops to large national retailers—losing hundreds to thousands of pounds each week.

Despite preventative measures such as employing security staff and installing CCTV systems, these efforts are often insufficient to deter the most prolific offenders. The local Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) is actively reviewing reports to identify and target repeat offenders. However, we are aware that many incidents go unreported, often due to varying policies and procedures across businesses.

We strongly encourage all retailers to report every instance of shoplifting and to support investigations by providing CCTV footage and witness statements. Timely and consistent reporting is vital in helping us build strong cases and take effective action.

In addition to pursuing criminal investigations, the NPT is working closely with the Anti-Social Behaviour Team to implement alternative interventions aimed at disrupting persistent offending. One such measure currently being used is the issuance of Community Protection Warnings (CPWs), which form part of a broader strategy to address repeat offending and protect local businesses.