THE past month has been a time for awareness, reflection and renewal.
Remembrance Day, to remember those in the Armed Forces who have given their lives in the line of duty, has been followed by some important awareness weeks focusing on addressing harm, upholding justice, and fostering meaningful change.
Restorative Justice Week, Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week, and Road Safety Week all took place in the second half of November.
The first of these is an opportunity to raise awareness of restorative justice, encouraging offenders to take responsibility for their actions and understand the impact of their behaviour, allowing them to redeem themselves and discouraging future harm.
Restorative justice offers victims an active role in the justice process, helping to alleviate feelings of anxiety and powerlessness.
I am continually inspired by stories of success, where victims engage bravely in dialogue and offenders acknowledge their actions, fostering genuine rehabilitation and community healing.
It adds to the range of support options available for victims, so everyone can find an approach that feels right for them.
Anti-Social Behaviour Awareness Week is an initiative to bring communities together against behaviour that has a profoundly unsettling impact on individuals, families, and communities.
It’s an issue I frequently hear about from residents.
According to YouGov research, almost one in five people have considered moving home because of the impact ASB was having on them – and one in 10 have moved.
Despite this, over half of victims and witnesses surveyed did not report the behaviour.
One of the core commitments in my Police and Crime Plan is to address ASB through strengthened neighbourhood policing and community engagement.
I am encouraging anyone experiencing ASB to report it, whether to local police or anonymously through Crimestoppers. When people speak up, it provides evidence of the scale and locations of ASB and is essential to providing an effective response.
Working with the neighbourhood policing teams, I’m committed to ensuring that those affected feel heard and supported, while also putting in place long-term measures to reduce ASB and strengthen community resilience.
Road Safety Week is a campaign from Brake UK, which reminds us of the impact on people’s lives behind the road accident statistics and calls for meaningful action to support road safety.
On average, five people die every day on the road in the UK and 80 are seriously injured. These are not mere numbers: each represents a family forever changed by the trauma of a road accident.
I’ve invited everyone in Avon and Somerset to get involved, whether by sharing your story, joining an event, or supporting the efforts of organisations like Resolve West and Brake.
Let us embrace these opportunities to listen, to learn, and, most importantly, to come together in making our communities safer for everyone.
My survey asking for your views on the amount you would be willing to pay through your council tax for policing is still open.
You can have your say at tinyurl.com/34cj3xzu.
I hope you all have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.