Business owners, Avon & Somerset Police, and Taunton Town Council gathered recently at Mr Miles Tearooms for a ‘Safer Streets Taunton’ meeting, organised by the Taunton Chamber of Commerce. The meeting, hosted by Colin Barrell, owner of Mr Miles Tearooms and Town Centre liaison on the Chamber’s Executive Committee, aimed to address business concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre.
Colin Barrell highlighted the need for a united approach, stating, “We have brought you all together to listen to concerns, increase communication and to strengthen relationships as we all strive to keep our town centre welcoming for visitors and businesses alike.”
Attendees heard from Regional Police & Crime Commissioner Clare Moody, senior Avon & Somerset Police personnel, and Taunton Town Council representatives. Taunton and Wellington MP Gideon Amos joined via virtual link from Westminster, reinforcing his commitment to supporting town centre initiatives.
Discussions focused on challenges faced by businesses, improving stakeholder communication, and collaborative solutions. Local police also outlined the success of recent initiatives targeting youth violent crime and crime prevention during the festive shopping season.
Superintendent Lisa Simpson, Police Commander for Somerset, said, “We welcomed the opportunity to share, with our key partners and local businesses, what our policing teams are doing to tackle crime levels and anti-social behaviour in Taunton. We were also able to explain what we need from the community to identify offenders and progress prosecutions – that is, through increased reporting and high-quality CCTV submissions.
“2024 was a challenging year for community policing as we navigated increasing demand, in both volume and complexity, with finite resources. However, we want to iterate to the communities and businesses in Taunton that we are committed to keeping everyone safe, and to allowing all residents and visitors to feel confident that they are safe.
“We’re listening to your concerns and know improving our police response to crime and anti-social behaviour in the town, and Somerset more widely, is critical to restoring your trust and confidence.
“By closely collaborating with the Chamber of Commerce, local authorities and other agencies, we’ll prioritise the biggest issues, steering people away from criminal behaviour through early intervention and prevention work, empowering businesses with crime prevention and reporting advice, and relentlessly pursuing those who seek to cause harm.”
Cllr Bev Fernandes, Chair of Community and Place at Taunton Town Council, added, “I thank the Taunton Chamber for bringing together businesses and Avon & Somerset Police. To combat anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, we are funding a 12-month membership with UKPAC, enabling local businesses to report crime incidents and share intelligence securely. Further details will follow soon
Additionally, we continue to invest in advanced CCTV and an extra Street Marshall to enhance safety.”
Richard Holt, President of Taunton Chamber of Commerce, expressed appreciation for the insights shared. “It is essential that we continue to work together as a community to report ASB incidents in the town to inform targeted response from the police, utilising the limited resources of the police in a strategic way to combat crime on the ground effectively.” He welcomed Taunton Town Council’s UKPAC initiative and thanked the members of the local business community present for their positive engagement.
The event reinforced the commitment of all stakeholders to making Taunton’s town centre a safe, thriving environment. The Chamber of Commerce pledged to continue facilitating dialogue and advocating for initiatives that support businesses and the wider community.