NEARLY 1,000 incidents of violence and sexual offences were reported to Avon and Somerset Police in Bridgwater town centre last year (2023).

Data shows from the period running from November 2022 to October 2023, 818 of these crimes were reported, making it the most frequently reported offence in the town centre - with an average of 68 reports per month.

397 incidents of anti social behaviour in the town centre were reported over the same period.

There were also 237 public order reports, 183 shoplifting reports, and a further 168 for criminal damage and arson.

Other less commonly reported crimes last year included bicycle theft, drugs, and possession of weapons.

Theft from the person was reported eleven times.

June was the town centre's most prolific month for criminal activity, with 221 reports made to Avon and Somerset Police.

Despite this, the peak period from April to June in 2023 was actually the lowest in the last three years, with 608 reports.

In 2022, the same period saw 616 reports filed, and 2021's peak from July to September included 654 incidents.

January 2023 was the month with the lowest number of reported crimes, but still saw 135 incidents in the town centre alone.

Over the course of the year, there were several different outcomes to the reported crimes in Bridgwater Town Centre.

601 suspects were 'unable to be prosecuted', 332 remain under investigation, 520 are marked as 'status update unavailable', and 397 fall under the 'other' category.

20 offenders were given cautions, 18 reports were 'resolved locally', and 53 are still awaiting court outcome.

From the dataset period running from November 2022 to October 2023, 2,092 crimes were reported in Bridgwater Town Centre.

In October, the quarterly Bridgwater Town Council Police Forum meeting saw street drinking, youth violence, and vandalism discussed with the public, as well as the use of electric scooters.

After the discussion, Cllr Tim Mander (Labour, Westover), who chaired the meeting, said: “The exercise was useful but it’s incredibly frustrating that the same incidents and problems seem to reoccur with such frequency with the police at times seemingly powerless to act, or react.”