Faith Watch

Faith Watch can help you: it is based on the idea that formed Neighbourhood Watch and is an opportunity for faith communities in Bristol to work together to communicate any concerns. Faith watch is coordinated and supported by Avon and Somerset Police.

Neighbourhood watch began back in 1982 and is based in a street or number of streets. Faith communities are often dotted across the city.


Faith watch aims:

  • To reduce crime and the opportunities for crime
  • To help and reassure the community
  • To encourage neighbourliness and closer communities
  • To communicate with members fo faith watch, making them aware of any incidents that may affect them.

As part of a Faith Watch group you will find there is a heightened awareness of what is going on in and around your area. Messages are forwarded to watch volunteers to inform them of crime trends, provide public information and to offer crime reduction advice

The elderly and most vulnerable members of the community feel more secure.

A community spirit grows within the area.

Police Community Support Officers and Beat Managers working with faith groups build a closer relationship.

To find out more, please contact Cliff Spence, Diversity Officer at Avon and Somerset Police (0117 9529720)

Actively Peaceful

The rain held off, the people came and the media captured our joy.

After a rapid, very short month of sometimes frantic planning and on-the-hoof rethinking of the day, All Together Bristol finally happened and I for one am overjoyed at the result. Thirty-two days after our first forum exploration of what we might do, what we shouldn’t do, and what we — eventually — simply must do, the turnout and the message was just perfect.

After the day before, when Bristol seemed wracked by fear and conflict, hate and prejudice, the All Together Bristol approach was just right.

But what actually happened?

We gathered on Queen Square. Gradually people came together, from a cross the four corners of the square, site of the EDL march the previous day, and kicking off point for our walk to Millennium Square. A platform, a microphone and flowers appeared. People were handed helpers jackets. It’s interesting how people respond to a hi-viz. Immediately the wearer is transformed into a creature ordained with extra powers of knowledge or ability. But, notably, without any hint of the inevitable marshal nature of the police lines from the day before. There: I’ve mentioned it. It’s tricky not to. The EDL effect is invasive and destructive, but there was one good thing about their visit to Bristol: we met on 15th July and showed the city how peace can prevail.

The media were everywhere. Radio Bristol, ITV, BBC TV, This is Bristol and also The Post. One of our core aims was to get good press coverage. That happened for sure. First items on both ITV and BBC local news. Radio Bristol Sunday morning, thisisbristol.co.uk including a video montage. Depending on who did the counting we were between 300 and 400 people, but thousands more will have seen the full extent and positive power of what we achieved.

But, again, what actually happened?

The flowers worked. The walking worked. Walking with flowers worked.

And, significantly, for about an hour afterwards, as I just hung around the square, there were people talking, groups continuing to share and engage. Amongst the buzz and business of Millennium Square, as it is every summer Sunday afternoon, there was an extra dimension of hopeful imagination. Where we go from here needs to be discerned. That we need to continue to work together needs no thought at all.

That is what actually happened. We met, we talked, we shared and we saw each other as members of the same group, as people. Of course there are distinguishing features, and there are differences which challenge. But challenge and conflict are entirely different things. Conflict destroys. Challenge builds. On July 15th in Millennium Square we all challenged. We all were challenged: to live together.