Police officers in Patchway have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries at The Parade, Coniston Road as part of their investigations into an incident in which a firework was thrown into one of the shops.
It happened at about 5:30pm last night (Wednesday 31st October), while a family with a three-year-old girl were in the store. Although the father tried to stamp out the ‘banger’-type firework, the girl and her mother received minor burn injuries to the legs and feet.
Neighbourhood Inspector Bob Evely said:
“I’d ask anyone with any information about who was responsible for this reckless incident to contact us through our website. You can also ring us on 101 or alternatively call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 (they never ask your name or trace your call).”
Police also seized more than two dozen eggs and quantities of flour from young people in the town last night.
Inspector Evely said:
“We stopped around 20 young people and confiscated flour and eggs between about 5:30pm and 7:30pm, when we had a number of calls about nuisance behaviour.”
“We took their names and addresses and will be in touch with their families as part of our Relentless drive to tackle anti-social behaviour.”
“Most shopkeepers took on board our request not to sell eggs and flour to youngsters and it seems that they had brought the items from home.”
Across the Avon and Somerset policing area this was the quietest ‘fright night’ ever. For the third successive year, there were fewer than 1,000 999 calls and non-emergency 101 calls were also below the 1,000 mark.
Between 4:30pm last night and 2:30am this morning (Thursday 1st November) just 332 999 calls were recorded, compared with 475 calls last year, which was itself a reduction on the 571 received in 2010.
South Gloucestershire Chief Inspector Norman Pascal said:
“We wanted to make sure people who celebrate Halloween had an enjoyable time, while supporting vulnerable and elderly members of the community by cracking down on the isolated incidents of anti-social behaviour.”
“There was a small minority of people who crossed the line from ‘trick or treating’ into anti-social behaviour but these were isolated incidents and we dealt with them quickly and effectively.”
Related link: Police in Patchway (The Journal)
Can I just say the little girl is only just 2!
It doesnt say which shop
An “exclusive” report in yesterday’s Bristol Post says the incident was a “race attack”.
The victims told the paper they heard a racial slur shouted at the Sri Lankan shop keepers as the firework was thrown.
Read more: Firework race attack in Patchway shop
POLICE UPDATE (6th November):
A 16-year-old boy from Patchway was arrested on Monday November 5 on suspicion of assault and a racially aggravated public order offence. He was later released on police bail with conditions not to go to The Parade, pending a charging decision from the Crown Prosecution Service.
Neighbourhood Inspector Bob Evely said: “After this reckless incident a PCSO remained in the store to reassure both staff and shoppers. We continue to work closely with shopkeepers, Patchway Town Council, South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) youth groups and other partners to tackle those few people responsible for anti-social behaviour at The Parade, making full use of the CCTV installed by the town council.
“We and the South Gloucestershire Anti-Social Behaviour Team have seen a reduction in incidents after six people signed Acceptable Behaviour Contracts. We’ll take positive action against anyone causing problems at The Parade – we recently charged a 16-year-old boy with a public order offence after a woman shop worker was abused.
“With the support of the community we are making sure Patchway is a safe place to live and work, with overall crime falling and violent crime down by 10 per cent compared with last year.”
POLICE UPDATE (9th November):
Two more teenagers have been arrested by officers investigating an incident in which a toddler and her parents were injured by a firework thrown into a Patchway shop.
It happened at about 5.30pm on Wednesday October 31 at The Parade, Patchway.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested on Monday November 5 on suspicion of assault and a racially aggravated public order offence. He was later bailed with conditions not to go to The Parade pending a charging decision from the Crown Prosecution Service.
On Thursday November 8 another 16-year-old boy from Patchway and a 17-year-old young man from Almondsbury were arrested for the same offence. They too have been released on bail with conditions not to go to The Parade pending further enquiries.