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10 Questions: Sarah Crew – ‘Safety in our city means people run to us in their time of need’
Sarah Crew joined Avon & Somerset Police in 1994 and became the force’s first ever female chief constable in 2021.
Crew, who grew up in Bristol and studied classics at Oxford before joining the police, is also the National Police Chief Council national lead for rape and adult sexual offences.
In the latest edition of Bristol247’s quarterly magazine, Crew agreed to answer questions submitted by our readers, with no topic off limits.
is needed now More than ever
In 2022, Sarah Crew was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal. She was presented with the medal in 2023 by Peaches Golding OBE – photo – Avon and Somerset Police
1. How do you plan to tackle the ever-increasing crime rate in Bristol? (question submitted by Marcus Teague)
“It is important to recognise and differentiate the term ‘recorded crime’ with the overall prevalence of crime. For many reasons, not all crime is reported to the police and therefore it is not assessed, recorded and investigated. We have undertaken significant work in recent years to understand the barriers to reporting crime and thus reduce the disparity between overall crime and recorded crime.
“We have also increased investment in improving crime recording approaches which can often lead to subsequent crimes being recorded from singular incidents. We believe that having closed this gap between overall crime and recorded crime, for the first time, we can have far greater confidence in our data to monitor trends and for analysis.
“Recorded crime in Bristol has risen over the past three years, with the bulk of the increase occurring in the past year. However, this does not conclusively suggest that overall crime rates in Bristol are increasing too. The British Crime Survey indicates that nationally, overall crime is falling. Much of the increase in recorded crime can be attributed to increased reporting of shoplifting and sexual offences.
“In relation to shoplifting, we have seen vast improvements in reporting. In Bristol, we work with partners and their security and operations teams to tackle shop theft.
“Having accurate crime data is critical in making these joint efforts effective. We chair a monthly security meeting to discuss current offenders and problem times and areas, sharing information to make it easier to catch thieves. We use ‘Shop Net’ radios to stay on top of incidents as they happen so we can get officers to the scene if resources allow. Recent successes involve using anti-social behaviour powers to obtain Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) for prolific offenders.
“We currently have over 50 live CBOs for Bristol making it easier to bring perpetrators to justice. We also have Designing Out Crime Officers who visit retailers and advise them on how to improve security in their premises.”
The 2020 #BeHeard campaign at Bridewell Police Station, commissioned by the then Police and Crime Commissioner, highlighted survivors of domestic abuse – photo Ellie Pipe
“We know that violence against women and girls (VAWG) and Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) are significantly under reported nationally. The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimates that sex offending rates were approximately static over the last two years, however, in Avon and Somerset reported crime has risen by 36 per cent. This represents the highest level of reporting in the country, and we are confident that this is an indication of increasing levels of trust and confidence in coming forwards through our Operation Soteria Bluestone approach.
“Some types of violent crime have also increased, and we understand the impact that knife enabled crime has on the sense of community safety. We share the concerns about knife crime, which is seen throughout the country, particularly when this involves young people. The causes of knife crime are complex, and policing alone cannot solve them. We are working with a range of partners on an early intervention approach, complemented by proactive enforcement based on intelligence. We collaborate with city and community leaders to identify and respond to the root causes of offending, intervening, and diverting young people away from harmful behaviors before they escalate.
“In addition to our own data for knife enabled crime, we closely monitor NHS A&E knife injury admissions in Bristol. This is lower than the national average and we are seeing a downward trend. Comparative data for forces with big cities similar to Bristol shows that our recorded serious violence is below average.
“Drug crime is another big concern for communities, in fact it is a key driver of the volume of shoplifting we see. We target the organised crime gangs who exploit vulnerable people through illegal drug supply and bring misery to communities. We balance this enforcement with a harm reduction approach, working with partners to safeguard vulnerable people and help them access support and treatment.
“The best way to reduce crime is through prevention and our Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) work tirelessly with local communities and partner organisations to help keep them safe. We also need residents to be our eyes and ears in their communities and tell us what they know, so we can best target our resources. Please report concerns via our website, by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency. If you would rather remain anonymous, contact independent charity Crimestoppers, by calling 0800 555 111.”
2. What will you do to tackle anti-social behaviour in Bristol? Every month there are burning cars, stolen cars, break-ins and drug dealing. Police do not even turn up? (Nellouille Carton)
“We recognise that anti-social behaviour (ASB) seriously impacts people’s quality of life and their feelings of safety. The current levels of reported ASB for north and south Bristol have remained relatively stable for the last two years (+2.4 per cent increase over the last 12 months). This is also the case for vehicle offences and theft of vehicles during the same period (+1.7 per cent increase in the last 12 months).
During the 2021 Kill the Bill protest, police vehicles were set on fire – photo: Martin Booth
“Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams play a vital role in helping solve local problems alongside communities. A recent example of this is the approach taken in Hartcliffe to tackle youth related ASB at Morrisons on Symes Avenue. The local Neighbourhood Policing Team took the problem back to its roots, engaging with partners and community leaders to understand the drivers.
“They built relationships up from the ground, collaborating with youth mentors and family outreach teams, and by providing direct outreach to young people with things like regular football sessions run by the Robins Foundation. They worked closely with Morrisons who put measures in place to support the police and young people, so they felt valued. This resulted in a 60 per cent reduction in youth related ASB calls to police in a year.
“Another important way to address ASB is with high visibility policing patrols. In May the Home Office awarded Avon and Somerset Police funding to deliver 12,000 hours of extra patrols across the region to tackle ASB, and serious violence, 7000 of which have taken place across Bristol (as of 26 Sept 2024). The high visibility foot patrols see officers out on the streets engaging with members of the public and businesses, disrupting the activity of people involved in ASB or other criminality. We work alongside our partners in Bristol City Council to carry out these patrols.
“We take all reports of ASB seriously and they are assessed in terms of the Threat, Harm and Risk posed. For North and South Bristol, our current response times to immediate graded reports is 8.3 minutes and priority graded incidents have a response time of 25.9 minutes.
“However, one of the many challenges we face is using our finite level of resources to meet all calls for service. There are occasions, depending on the time, day or time of year, where levels of demand far outweigh the level of resource we have available. As a result, we must prioritise calls and ensure that we respond to the incidents with the highest levels of risk and greatest threats to the public. It remains the case currently that some of these higher priority matters involve supporting people in mental health crisis or other concerns for welfare that the public may not recognise as police work.
“In addition to the extra patrols funded by the Home Office, our Neighbourhood Policing Teams are proactive in tackling the harm caused by drugs in communities. In September, the Easton Neighbourhood Policing Team followed up information supplied by a member of the public about suspected drug dealing at an address in the area and discovered copious quantities of suspected Class A and Class B drugs. Investigations are ongoing but the team may have broken a large drugs supply ring in the city, showing the importance of people reporting their concerns and suspicions to the police, to help us build our intelligence picture.”
3. Why don’t the police take bike theft more seriously? For many, their bike is their main mode of transport. If there was a similar scale of vehicle thefts taking place I am sure the police wouldn’t brush it off so lightly. (Ann O’Driscoll)
“Bristol is a cycling city, and people should be able to ride their bikes safely, without worrying about theft. We recognise that a bike stolen can have a significant impact on someone’s life, especially if it is their main mode of transport. In the last 12 months there has been a 6.2 per cent (88 fewer) decrease in reported pedal cycle theft for Bristol.
Bicycles of all shapes and sizes can be seen in Bristol – photo: Rob Browne
“While there is a decrease in reported pedal cycle theft, this is still considered a volume crime. The reality is that there are often very few proportionate lines of enquiry that we can follow and so the chances of solving are low.
There are many ways people can keep their bike safe, including having it marked and registered on the Bike Register website. This helps us return stolen bikes to their rightful owners in the event we recover them.
“Our Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) carry out regular bike marking events to encourage owners to do all they can to prevent them being stolen. So far in 2024, the Bristol NPTs have held 44 bike marking events across the city, helping hundreds of people to register their bikes and sharing other tips to beat bike thieves, such as investing in a good lock, how to secure bikes in public and at home, and taking all removable parts of a bike with you when you do lock them in public. More crime prevention information can be found on our website: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/crime-prevention-advice/staying-safe-on-the-road/protect-your-bike-from-thieves/.
“If you see someone tampering with a bike and believe a crime is in progress, please call 999 immediately. If your bike is stolen, please to let us know as soon as possible and we will respond as soon as we can. It is important we understand where and when crime is happening so we can work with our partners to prevent it.”
4. What are you going to do about the increase in violence against women and girls? (Lou Parfitt)
“We continue to make tackling VAWG one of our priorities and we are committed to our vision of making the region an area where women and girls can live free from fear, harassment, and violence.
“Operation Soteria Bluestone in Avon and Somerset Police has been a transformative approach to how we support victims of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO). It provides an innovative approach to support victims through the whole investigative process and sets out to relentlessly pursue perpetrators. We are leaders in this area nationally and have seen significant increases in recorded crime, through improved confidence to report, and increases to positive outcomes for survivors by bringing more offenders to justice.
“Three years ago, prior to Operation Bluestone, our charge rate for rape was 2.5 per cent; this has increased to more than 8 per cent since that time. This is a significant shift, but there is still much work to be done. For Bristol specifically, in the last 12 months, the volume of rape charges has increased by 87 per cent.
“During the last three years we have seen a six per cent increase in VAWG based offending in Bristol in terms of recorded crime. In the last 12 months, we have introduced several other new initiatives and schemes to help women and girls feel safer. One way is through Project Vigilant, which uses a combination of uniformed and plain clothed officers to patrol around clubs, bars and pubs. Plain clothed officers identify people displaying signs of predatory behaviour, such as harassment or inappropriate touching. The uniformed officers then step in to intervene and prevent offences. This is being piloted in Weston-super-Mare and Bath but we have plans to establish it across the whole of Avon and Somerset.”
The 2020 #BeHeard exhibition at Bridewell Police Station highlighted survivors of domestic abuse – photo: Ellie Pipe
“As well as focusing on creating safer public spaces, we are working on addressing domestic violence and abuse in the home. Earlier in the year, extra resources were dedicated to a five-day operation that targeted suspects of domestic abuse. Eight suspects were arrested, and this proactive, perpetrator focused approach allowed us to secure quicker arrests and get earlier safeguarding measures in place for victims.
“We regularly consider new and improved ways to protect the public. In June and July 2024, we launched a targeted collaborative initiative where officers and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVAs) worked together to jointly attend reports of domestic violence. This new approach helped to secure the best evidence, provide immediate support, and improve the service to victims.
“We also meet with criminal justice partners and independent domestic violence advisors to review previous domestic abuse cases to find ways we can improve our response and investigation process. We are particularly focusing on those cases where we can see an element of coercive and controlling behaviour and using this to build stronger cases.
“We know there is still a long way to go, but we are working hard to improve the service we provide. We have learned a great deal through Operation Bluestone, and we are now working hard to extend that learning to the entire range of VAWG offending.
“To see more ways, we are addressing VAWG, including walk and talks which give women and girls the opportunity to speak with female officers about what makes them feel unsafe so we can work with local authorities to rectify them, please visit our website.”
5. How should policing deal with misogyny and racism? Is it doing enough to protect staff as well as the public? (@broken_bearclaw)
“Much work is being done in Avon and Somerset Police to root out all forms of racism and misogyny, which have no place in policing and undermine our values.
“In June 2023 I acknowledged that Avon and Somerset Police are institutionally racist. This was a significant step, and we continue to be one of only a few forces to have done this nationally. We are undertaking work on the areas identified in the National Race Action Plan (NPRAP) and a detailed report with recommendations titled ‘Identifying Disproportionality’ which looks at the criminal justice system as a whole. This work takes a holistic view on the experiences of colleagues and the public from minoritised backgrounds to ensure we are delivering the highest possible levels of service.
“The previous answer on VAWG highlights the significant work that we have undertaken to improve our services for women and girls. This area of work is not solely about positive outcomes, it is widespread and covers victims’ journeys in totality, including how we conduct ourselves and the language we use.
“Internally, we are proactively rooting out all forms of misogyny by educating our staff and supporting those subjected to it. This includes the creation of trained sexual misconduct advocates, internal campaigns and mandatory training for all staff. We have seen increased reporting of this type of incident between colleagues which is another indicator of staff feeling empowered and supported to raise these issues. When they are raised, they are investigated swiftly, and positive action is taken through our misconduct procedures. There is no place for this behaviour in Avon and Somerset Police, or anywhere in society.
Sarah Crew says that Avon and Somerset Police are working to root out “all forms of misogyny”- photo: Martin Booth
“The To Catch a Copper documentary series earlier this year was an example of radical transparency, and it started a conversation within our own service, as well as nationally. Some of the cases in the programme were deeply distressing and they held a mirror up to our service. We’ve had courageous and frank conversations both during and since the documentary broadcast, including with the Police Federation.
“New regulations have now come into effect which will give chief constables the power to remove officers from their organisations if they are found to have breached professional standards, which they didn’t have previously.
Since acknowledging institutional racism, our Race Matters work has continued at pace. The acknowledgment at that time allowed us to begin consulting and co-designing with our racially minoritised communities on key areas that will reduce disproportionality and support our aim to become an anti-racist police service.
“Our anti-racist strategy lays out how we will do this in partnership with our communities and staff. Community engagement is fundamental to this work, so we created the Race Matters Community Network which now has over 90 members, who actively work with us to deliver our anti-racist strategy, ensuring community voices are at its heart. You can still sign up to the network – just search ‘race matters’ on the Avon and Somerset Police website. The Race Matters Independent Scrutiny and Advisory Board will be established in October 2024, to hold us to account on delivering these commitments.
Aisha Thomas is the founder of Representation Matters, a racial justice organisation focussed on amplifying marginalised voices – photo: Tasha Hylton
“Becoming anti-racist will require cultural change in our organisation so we have created the Race Matters training programme, in partnership with Aisha Thomas of Representation Matters, which has seen over 1500 frontline officers receive a full day’s input, helping officers to understand and relate to the issues around race and policing, exploring how historical issues impact the way we deliver our service for communities. We are also building a network of race allies internally, to advocate on behalf of colleagues from racially minoritised communities.
“We have also made changes to our stop and search policy which aims to reduce disproportionality in our use of this power and introduced a new deferred prosecution model called Chance to Change, which will help to divert more people from disadvantaged backgrounds away from the criminal justice system.”
6. Why are there no police on the beat anymore? (John Hughes)
“Every day in Bristol, dedicated and highly skilled police officers and PCSOs from our Neighbourhood Policing Teams are out in communities, striving to achieve positive outcomes for the public. They work consistently with local people and businesses to solve the problems that matter most to them, getting upstream of issues such as anti-social behaviour and drug dealing, to prevent them escalating.
“The latest local confidence survey shows that during the last 12 months, 33 per cent of residents have seen an officer or PCSO in the last seven days. This is comparatively high compared to pre-COVID rates of 23 per cent, but slightly down on the previous year (38 per cent).
“As part of our commitment to enhance Neighbourhood Policing, local teams are regularly supported by specialist force resources to tackle issues in their areas. Recent examples include test purchasing operations, days of action to pursue wanted offenders and conduct search warrants, traffic operations and high visibility patrols in town and city centres.
“Our school engagement officers work with young people, building relationships and interventions to divert them away from the criminal justice system.
The latest local confidence survey shows that during the last 12 months, 33 per cent of residents have seen an officer or PCSO in the last seven days – photo: Jamie Bellinger
“Over the past year a priority for Bristol’s neighbourhood officers has been to connect with new community groups and establish ongoing relationships with them, leading to connections with 60 new community-based groups. This summer, officers working on Stapleton Road in Easton were tasked to ensure that every local business owner knew the first name of their local officer, recognising that this model of neighbourhood policing is the bedrock of strong and safe communities.
“Wherever possible teams are out and visible on the streets. However, austerity, increasing demand and the growing complexity of crime means we must make difficult decisions every day about where to place our limited resources.
“We do this based on threat, harm and risk. The public rightly expect us to respond to 999 calls and this does mean that resources are sometimes diverted from neighbourhood teams to patrol, so we can respond in a timely way and prevent the greatest harm. When we make the decision to attend to one thing, it inevitably means we cannot attend to something else, which can mean we aren’t able to be as visible and proactive in communities as we would like.
“The Police and Crime Commissioner, Clare Moody, has been clear that she is committed to strengthening neighbourhood policing and we await the publication of her Police and Crime Plan to understand how this can be delivered, so that we can be more visible in our communities.”
7. Why aren’t the police doing more to find Jack? (Abbie Fox)
“Firstly, I want to recognise the immense distress Jack’s disappearance has had on his family and all those who love him. It’s impossible to comprehend what impact this continues to have on them and they are always in our thoughts. They are desperate to know what’s happened to Jack and I know I speak for all those involved in the search over the past seven months, that we’re sorry we haven’t been able to give them these definitive answers so far.
“We have a shared aim with Jack’s family. We want to find out what happened to him after the last likely sighting on CCTV in Bennett Way, in the early hours of Saturday March 2.
“We have an assistant chief constable overseeing what remains an active missing person investigation and I’m being kept regularly updated on its progress. We’ve kept an open mind from the outset, always making sure we’re being led by the evidence.”
Jack O’Sullivan went missing after a house party in March – photo: Martin Booth
“An immense amount of work has been undertaken since the beginning of March, involving operational and investigative resources from across our police force and beyond. This includes extensive searches carried out of land and water, involving our dog units, dive team, drone unit and mounted section.
“More than 100 hours of CCTV footage have been watched and reviewed and reviewed again. We’ve sought advice from the very best specialists policing has to offer, including experts in data analysis, searches and the movement and flow of water. We’ve been open to, and acted on, all the advice we’ve received to ensure no stone is left unturned in our search for Jack, and this work continues.
“To have people go missing for this length of time remains extremely rare. In Avon and Somerset, we have dealt with 5,432 missing person cases within the past 12 months – which equates to double figures every day. In around three-quarters of cases, the person is found within the first 24 hours. Sadly, Jack’s case is one of the minority of cases which remain unresolved despite our efforts.
“We’re still actively appealing for anyone with information about Jack’s disappearance to come forward. We know there may be people with information they may think is insignificant, but which may prove to be important to our investigation. For the latest appeal and some answers to frequently asked questions, we have a live appeal on our website: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news/2024/09/renewed-appeal-to-find-jack-osullivan-23-six-months-on”
8. Will any officers face consequences for the injured protesters during the ‘kill the bill’ demonstration (@masks.and.flags)
“The protests which took place in early 2021 were against a backdrop of challenging circumstances for policing, primarily due to the national restrictions in place at the time to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic and prevent the spread of the virus.
“It’s our fundamental duty to facilitate peaceful protests and this is a responsibility we take extremely seriously. We have a long and proud history of doing so.
“It’s important to separate the peaceful protests which were allowed to take place during this time, with the violence and disorder which took place outside the Bridewell Police Station on March 21, in which police vehicles were damaged and set alight, officers were assaulted, and our neighbourhood police station was vandalised.
“Many officers received physical injuries during the disorder and far greater numbers suffered enduring trauma for simply trying to do their jobs and maintain the peace.
The ‘kill the bill’ protests in 2021 started off peacefully but ended in a riot – photo: Jamie Bellinger
“The level of violence faced by officers during this period was significantly greater than other similar demonstrations and as a result, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) charged offenders with Riot. This was a rare and significant step as there are very few cases of Riot, as per the legal definition, in British history.
“It’s right the police are scrutinised for actions taken and the force used during this incident, and we always welcome transparency. Each complaint made to the police was assessed by our Professional Standards Department, and wherever necessary were referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Of the formal complaints recorded, the service level provided was found to be acceptable and in line with relevant legislation, for example covering the use of force. In a small number of cases, when our Professional Standards investigators asked for further evidence or information, no response was received, so were unable to make a full determination.
“As a result of the lengthy and diligent criminal investigation, those responsible for this appalling behaviour have been sentenced to more than 112 years.”
9. What does safety in Bristol for ALL look like to you? (Dawnecia Palmer)
“I recently marked my 30th year of working in policing in Avon and Somerset. I spent a significant part of those decades working in Bristol, as a police constable leading criminal investigations in the city. I joined, like many of my colleagues, because I wanted to protect people, to keep them safe from harm. I still feel that way.
“We police without fear or favour, but we must also police with an understanding of the communities we serve.
As chief constable, that responsibility extends to everyone who lives in Avon and Somerset. British police have a unique relationship with the public. Our model of policing by consent relies on mutual trust and confidence. I know there are some communities where that trust is low, and I have challenged my organisation to do everything we can to improve that picture.
“This won’t be achieved by policing alone. It is through a collective will to work together that we’ll create a home where we can all thrive.
“To me, safety in our city means people run to us in their time of need. They look to the police to help them and keep them safe. Safety means bringing perpetrators to justice for their crimes, protecting vulnerable people and delivering positive outcomes for victims and their families.
“Safety in our city means people run to us in their time of need,” says Sarah Crew – photo: Karen Johnson
“It means building strong and resilient communities who work with us and other agencies to prevent crime and solve local problems before they escalate. It means building relationships with young people, supporting them to make better choices which keep them away from the criminal justice system.
“The people of this city need to work together to keep each other safe, to take a stand against those who threaten that. My commitment is that you have our unwavering support in that endeavour. Policing is best done with communities, rather than to them, working together to build sustainable positive change. ”
10. What can the police do to stop cyclists and scooter riders from riding on pavements, endangering older people and people with disabilities? This is a big problem in Bristol and happens every day. (Deborah Duffin)
“We understand the concerns regarding the use of bicycles and e-scooters on pavements, particularly when it endangers vulnerable people. Ensuring public safety remains our top priority.
“With e-scooters, it’s important to differentiate between those involved in government-approved rental trials and private e-scooters. Only rental e-scooters, operating within designated trial areas, are legal for use on public roads. We actively work with the West of England Combined Authority and the Department for Transport to ensure these trials are safe and well-regulated.
“However, the use of privately owned e-scooters on public highways, including pavements, is illegal. Private e-scooters are classified as motor vehicles and require insurance and a valid driving licence to operate legally – criteria that they cannot meet. This creates a significant challenge for both law enforcement and the public.
“Avon and Somerset Police adopt a proportionate and balanced approach, prioritising education to promote responsible usage. While we enforce the law and regularly conduct operations targeting high-risk areas, our aim is to educate riders, particularly younger users, about the risks and legal consequences of using e-scooters illegally. Where necessary, we do seize e-scooters, and there have been prosecutions for offences such as riding without insurance and drink-driving on these vehicles.
In September a change.org petition was set up to ban e-scooters in Bristol – photo: Martin Booth
“For cyclists, riding on the pavement is illegal unless explicitly allowed by local signage, and we take action where necessary. Officers patrol problem areas, and penalties are issued when offences are identified. However, we also focus on educating cyclists about the risks they pose to pedestrians, especially in areas with vulnerable populations.
“If you know of a particular problem area, please report it via the Avon and Somerset Police website. This enables us to target our efforts effectively and address concerns in specific locations.
“We continue to work closely with local authorities, transport bodies, and communities to explore longer-term solutions to the issues surrounding micro-mobility devices, ensuring all road users, including cyclists and scooter riders, act responsibly and within the law to protect the most vulnerable in our society.”
Main photo: Avon & Somerset Police
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