logo
Gloucestershire Police's plain-clothes officers targeting predators

Gloucestershire Police's plain-clothes officers targeting predators

BBC News29-03-2025

Plain-clothes police officers will patrol outside pubs and clubs to crackdown on violence and harassment.Gloucestershire Police will also use its dog unit to tackle crimes in Gloucester city centre on Saturdays as part of Operation Comet, which aims to ensure people stay safe while on a night out. The force will work alongside Night Angels, Street Pastors, Night Safe officers, street medics and licensed premises.Insp Ash Gardner, from the force, said: "People are entitled to enjoy nights out in our city without the fear of violence, harassment or intimidation."
The plans follow a successful pilot that ran in the city before Christmas.
While on patrol, the officers will be looking to prevent youth crime, anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls and the sale of drugs. Insp Gardner add: "We will take appropriate action should we find anyone offending. "Our increased presence will help prevent crime and make those who wish to cause trouble think twice."Members of the public are encouraged to speak to officers if they have any concerns while they are out.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Police seize 1,200 cannabis plants worth £1m in Luton warehouse
Police seize 1,200 cannabis plants worth £1m in Luton warehouse

BBC News

timean hour ago

  • BBC News

Police seize 1,200 cannabis plants worth £1m in Luton warehouse

Police have seized about 1,200 plants of cannabis estimated to be worth more than £1m from a warehouse. Bedfordshire Police said its community team in Luton had spent two days dismantling an industrial-level cannabis growing operation at a warehouse in Camford Way in Sundon Park. UK Power Networks and the fire service alerted the force to the site. An investigation into the illegal drugs farm is continuing and the force has urged anyone with information to get in touch. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Horrifying moment ‘killer' slashes cops with sword after he ‘knifed boy, 14, to death in ferocious rampage'
Horrifying moment ‘killer' slashes cops with sword after he ‘knifed boy, 14, to death in ferocious rampage'

The Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Sun

Horrifying moment ‘killer' slashes cops with sword after he ‘knifed boy, 14, to death in ferocious rampage'

THIS is the horrifying moment an alleged killer slashed at cops with a sword after he knifed a 14-year-old boy to death in the street, a court heard. Marcus Arduini Monzo, 37, ambushed Daniel Anjorin, 14, on April 30 last year as he made his way to school in Hainault, East London. 7 7 Jurors heard Monzo also tried to kill female cop Yasim Mechem-Whitfield, Henry De Los Rios Polina, Sindy Arias and Donato Iwule in the horror. Footage released by police shows the chilling moments after the rampage as brave officers attempted to stop Monzo. He was also captured striking an ambulance with the sword as paramedics arrived to treat Daniel. As an officer attempts to help the victim on the ground, Monzo then approaches while wielding the weapon. Cops tell him to "drop it" but the so-called "mystic" replies: "Do you believe in God?" He then flees through nearby gardens before being chased down an alleyway by police. The footage shows a brave cop attempt to approach Monzo, who then slashes at them with a sword as an officer yells "police officer stabbed". He also stabs another cop in the arm as they desperately try to block the sword with a baton. The 20-minute horror only comes to an end when Monzo is Tasered and then handcuffed in a back garden. The court heard the "talented" martial artist spent nearly £1,000 on swords in December 2023 before cancelling the order. He then bought two handmade Katana swords for £427.80 on February 21, 2024, with delivery coming through to his home in early April. Previous footage played to jurors showed Monzo branding a sword "freaking sexy" as he lunged around holding the weapon. The court heard he killed and skinned his own cat at home before setting off on the rampage after believing he was in the "Hunger Games". He carried out the attack with "murderous intent" over a 20-minute period on April 30, it was said. The Old Bailey heard Donato was the first to be attacked when Monzo "deliberately" drove into him in his van. As he was knocked into a garden, Monzo allegedly got out the van and slashed his neck with the Samurai sword. Donato managed to escape as emergency crews were scrambled to the residential street. Meanwhile, Daniel was walking to school "minding his own business" when his life was "snuffed out in an instant". Monzo allegedly used "extreme" force on the youngster, who suffered a "devastating and unsurvivable chopping injury" to his neck and face. The court heard PC Mechem-Whitfield arrived at the scene of the horror and "bravely pursued" Monzo through alleyways after he tried to flee. The officer was "struck three times" and suffered significant injuries in the horror. Monzo then burst into a house to attack a couple in their bedroom as their child slept next to them, it was said. He shouted out 'do you believe in God?' about four times then began to attack Henry De Los Rios Polania with the sword before attempting to stab his wife. Jurors were told their lives were only spared because the youngster woke up and started to cry. NHS systems were checked and revealed there were no documented mental health concerns or access to mental health services by Monzo. The court heard Monzo does not dispute he carried out the attacks. But the jury will have decide "why he did so and what his state of mind was" at the time. His brother Eduardo told the court Monzo had consumed ayahuasca – a hallucinogenic plant-based drink commonly used in South America – during a stay at a remote retreat in the Amazon. He said he was "concerned" as the drink has caused a "negative response" in some people. Eduardo said his brother began to withdraw from his family when he returned from the retreat. The court heard no trace of DMT – the hallucinogen found in ayahuasca – was detected in Monzo's system. But prosecutors said his "conduct was brought about by self-induced intoxication in the form of drugs" that led to a "psychotic disorder". Monzo, of West Beckton, Newham, denies murder, four counts of attempted murder and one of wounding with intent. The trial continues. 7 7 7

Police come under attack for fourth night in North
Police come under attack for fourth night in North

BreakingNews.ie

time2 hours ago

  • BreakingNews.ie

Police come under attack for fourth night in North

Police have come under attack for a fourth consecutive night in Northern Ireland as disorder spread through multiple towns. Missiles were thrown at officers after a protest in Portadown on Thursday, continuing a trend that was sparked earlier in the week in Ballymena. Advertisement It came after Northern Ireland's police chief warned 'bigots and racists' behind earlier nights of unrest in the North that his officers will be coming after them. Jon Boutcher said a young girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena at the weekend, an incident that triggered protests that descended into violence in the Co Antrim town, had been 'further traumatised' by the rioting since Monday. Forty-one officers have been injured in the unrest, which had resulted in 15 arrests by Thursday evening. Mr Boutcher, who met the girl's family earlier that day, spoke to the media in Belfast after a meeting with his oversight body, the Northern Ireland Policing Board. Advertisement 'Stop this violence,' he said. 'We will come after you. We will arrest you. We will prosecute you successfully. It is not in any way a way for a civilised society to behave and it must stop now.' He said the family was 'mortified' by the disorder. PSNI officers form a barricade with riot shields in Ballymena on Thursday (Liam McBurney/PA) 'This girl's family and this girl want it to end. Our communities want it to end. We need it to end. So please don't come out on the streets tonight. If you do, we will police you and we will deal with you through the criminal justice system.' After the warning, there were tense scenes in Portadown as masked individuals hurled masonry, fireworks and other objects at riot police late into the night. Advertisement Officers moved to extinguish fires set on roads while residents worked to clear debris left over from clashes in the area around Jervis Street. Police units, supported by the presence of a water cannon, dispersed those gathered into other areas of the town towards midnight. However, the unrest in Northern Ireland appeared of a lower intensity than scenes earlier in the week. Some gatherings planned in other towns proceeded largely without any major disturbance by 9pm on Thursday. Advertisement A significant police presence had been deployed to Ballymena but there was no initial repeat of the violence of previous nights. Police said a separate protest in east Belfast also ended early in the evening. The riotous behaviour earlier in the week saw vandalism, vehicles burned and arson attacks on a number of properties across several towns. Petrol bombs, fireworks, masonry and a hatchet were among items thrown at officers. Advertisement Police responded with water cannon, dogs and plastic baton rounds in an attempt to disperse crowds during riots in Ballymena. Mr Boutcher said: 'I want to specifically mention the 41 police officers who've been injured. Each of those officers have put themselves in harm's way to protect our communities. A PSNI vehicle near debris on fire during disorder in Ballymena (Liam McBurney/PA) 'And I want to send a very clear message to all our diverse communities: we stand absolutely shoulder to shoulder with you. We are here to protect you. 'We are your police service, and these bigots and racists will not win the day. This will be policed properly. We will deal with this, and we all know that in this room, but let's call an end to it now.' The PSNI chief said the initial lawful and legitimate process before unrest broke out was done in a way that was responsible and empathetic to the victim. However, he said the protest was subsequently 'hijacked' and turned into 'wanton, disgraceful criminal behaviour that is absolutely race motivated'. The chief said the service was under-resourced and needed to be funded 'properly' rather than 'disgracefully'. A hatchet was thrown at police during the unrest (PSNI Handout/PA) However, he said his officers would still bring people to justice: 'We've put our public order inquiry team together, we'll be releasing images of those responsible. We will be going after them.' Mr Boutcher said 80 public-order officers from Scotland came to the North on Thursday to support policing efforts. He described how PSNI members helped evacuate foreign national families who were hiding in attics and wardrobes in their homes in Ballymena as rioters went on the rampage on Monday. He said the families targeted had done nothing wrong. 'They are not criminals. They contribute positively to society here and are well integrated,' he said. A person throws a hatchet at police during the disorder (Liam McBurney/PA) 'Fire Service colleagues described how they went to the scenes to stop arson attacks at those addresses, and how they, in all their years in the Fire Service, have not seen levels of violence to that level, and told me specifically and directly of the bravery, the courage of a very thin green line of police officers that without doubt, in my view, saved lives that night.' Earlier, a judge said the courts would deal 'robustly' with those involved in the violence in Ballymena. District Judge Nigel Broderick said that young people who got involved were risking a significant custodial sentence, as three teenagers faced rioting charges at the town's magistrates' court on Thursday. Michael Elliot, 18, of Lanntara, Ballymena, and two youths, were the first defendants to appear in court since the sustained violence erupted on Monday. Meanwhile, two other teenage boys who were arrested during the disorder have been released on bail to allow for further police inquiries. Michael Elliott, 18, leaving Ballymena Courthouse, after a short hearing where he faced charges relating to the disorder (Liam McBurney/PA) Secretary of State Hilary Benn described the scenes as 'mindless racist thuggery' while Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long said it has been a 'three-day festival of hate and destruction' which needs to stop before someone loses their life. There was an arson attack on a leisure centre in Larne, thirty minutes from Ballymena, after it was temporarily used as an emergency shelter for those in urgent need after disturbances in the town earlier in the week. Communities minister Gordon Lyons, who highlighted the use of the building in a social media post, said all those who had been staying at the leisure centre are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne. Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill said Mr Lyons should resign over the post, and the leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly, SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole, said he would refer the communities minister to the standards commission. Mr Benn also asked the minister to 'reflect upon his words' and 'not upon his position'. Mr Lyons has resisted calls for his resignation and said he would 'strongly hit back at any notion' that he had publicly revealed the facility was being used to house immigrant families who had been affected by violence in Ballymena.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store