'Reckless' Bristol gang attack police and set fire to e-bike
A gang assaulted officers with a screwdriver and set fire to an e-bike in a "reckless" attack, police have said.While on foot patrol, two officers challenged a group of 10 men riding e-bikes along Bristol's waterfront and across Pero's Bridge on Thursday at about 22:30 GMT.Officers said the group became aggressive, hurled a screwdriver and threw accelerant on a bike, before setting it alight.Firefighters attended the scene to extinguish the "deliberate" fire at about 22:28 GMT.
'Acting anti-socially'
While attempting to detain one of the men, an officer had her wrist bent back. Chief Insp Keith Smith said the officers were engaging with members of the public when they saw this group "acting antisocially"."These actions were reckless and unacceptable and not only put our officers at risk, but also the wider public," he said."Our investigation into the incident is ongoing and we want to hear from anyone who may have seen or heard something, especially if anyone saw a group of this size in the area without their balaclavas on."Avon and Somerset Police said it understands this is a "concerning incident" and is increasing police presence and conducting high-visibility patrols in the area over the next few days.
An Avon Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: "Crews from Temple attended and extinguished a fire involving one motorbike."The cause of the fire is thought to be deliberate."Officers are looking for witnesses and any footage of the incident.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
11 hours ago
- Wales Online
Police officer barred after taking referee and barman jobs without permission
Police officer barred after taking referee and barman jobs without permission The officer was found to have committed gross misconduct and has been sacked The hearing was held at the HQ of Avon And Somerset Police and Avon Fire and Rescue in Portishead (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) A student police officer has been barred from policing for life after it was discovered that he took on paid work while suspended from duty or on sick leave without permission. PC Louis Cosway refereed seven matches for cash-in-hand during his suspension, as well as working 13 paid shifts at a bar in Newport while on sick leave without requesting permission. The Bristol-based officer was found to have committed gross misconduct at a hearing on Monday, June 9. He has been dismissed from his job and will be barred from policing for life, reports Bristol Live. PC Cosway was initially suspended in November 2023 for an unrelated matter. Following this, in December he submitted a business interest application to Avon and Somerset Police to work as a paid referee for the Football Association. The misconduct hearing panel was told that in February 2024, PC Cosway had been informed that his application had been denied permission, by which time he had refereed seven matches for cash-in-hand in Shirehampton despite still waiting for the decision and while suspended from duty. PC Cosway's suspension was lifted in April 2024 and he was placed on restricted duties. He then went on sick leave for six months. During this time, between July and December he completed 13 paid shifts at a Newport bar without requesting permission from his superiors. Article continues below Barrister Mark Ley-Morgan, representing the constabulary, told the hearing at force headquarters in Portishead that the officer did not submit a business interest application for the bar work because he anticipated it would not be approved. He explained that this form of employment could pose a conflict of interest for police officers, as while a barman may refrain from intervening in certain incidents, a constable might be duty-bound to get involved. Mr Ley-Morgan said: "That is almost always going to be deemed incompatible with being a police officer. "Having made the application to be a football referee and having had that refused, it's more likely than not that he deliberately did not inform the force that he was working in licensed premises because he knew it was likely that he would not have got permission. "He was working as a football referee right up to being informed it had been refused. "The constabulary's business interests procedural guidance is crystal clear – police officers are not permitted to engage in business interests without first gaining permission, and if they do engage in business interests, they should disclose it straight away. "The officer did not do that. "This is a case where serious harm to the reputation of the police service is likely to follow. "The officer was working for a sustained period both while suspended and while on sick leave. "There was plenty of time for the officer to realise he really shouldn't be doing what he was doing and either draw it to the attention of the force or stop working." While PC Cosway, who represented himself at the hearing, admitted to breaching the standards of professional behaviour and misconduct, he denied gross misconduct. He made mitigation representations, which were heard in private. Panel chairman Craig Holden, announced the decision to dismiss the officer without notice. He told PC Cosway: "You had been subject to another misconduct investigation which you say affected your judgement. Mr Holden added: "The officer has apologised and showed what appears to be genuine remorse. "It appears the officer has acted out of character." However, he went onto say that PC Cosway was entirely responsible for his actions and that a right-minded member of the public would think what he did was wrong. Mr Holden found that the allegation of working behind a bar having had the previous business interest request turned down amounted to gross misconduct and working as a football referee without authorisation as misconduct. Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here Following this, head of the police standards department Det Supt Larisa Hunt, said: "PC Cosway carried out paid employment as a referee and a bar worker, without obtaining the necessary permission, as he's required to do under the Police Regulations 2003. "He submitted a business interest application for the referee role, which was declined, and didn't submit any application at all for the bar role. Article continues below "His actions were deliberate and the work he carried out was either undertaken when he was under suspension or when he was on long-term sick leave. "This is completely unacceptable behaviour and a clear breach of the standards of professional behaviour for which he's now been dismissed from his role and barred from policing for life."
BBC News
15 hours ago
- BBC News
Man in his 90s dies in crash near Yeovil
A man in his 90s has died after being involved in a single-vehicle were called to reports of a white Fiat Panda leaving the carriageway in Closworth, near Yeovil in Somerset, on Wednesday at around 10:35 driver was taken to hospital, where he later died. There were no passengers in the car, Avon and Somerset Police force asked anyone with dashcam footage showing the vehicle before the collision, which was being driven along Sutton Hill towards the A37 junction, to get in touch.
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- North Wales Chronicle
E-fit image released after man's body discovered on Somerset beach
The body, of a man believed to be aged in his 40s or 50s, was discovered at Lilstock Beach, near Bridgwater, Somerset, on December 28. Earlier this year, Avon and Somerset Police launched an appeal to identify the man but this has not yet proved successful. Detectives have now created an e-fit image of the man, whose body is believed to have washed up after being in the water for between one and five days. His death is not believed to be suspicious. Detective Inspector George Pettingell, of Avon and Somerset Police, said: 'We hope that this image might be the key to helping us identify this man and importantly be able to update any family and friends. 'Forensic and DNA inquiries have established the man is likely of either Croatian or Bosnian heritage. 'He is also white, of large build and estimated to be aged in his 40s or 50s. 'He had a shaved head and was wearing a black jacket, black jumper, red trousers and black Nike trainers. 'We've been in contact with neighbouring forces but still so far have been unable to establish his identity. 'If you think you might know who this man is based off this information and the e-fit image, please contact us.' Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and provide the reference number 5224412225, or give information through the force's website.
