crime

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with Neil Maggs

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with filmmaker Aodh Breathnach on surviving being stabbed – and documenting its impact on him

With knife crime a tragically common part of life in Bristol and other cities, Neil talks to Aodh about the psychological trauma of being the victim of an attack, and the process of recovery.

Neil Maggs / Maggs Smart Media George Colwey Priyanka Raval
Neil Maggs / Maggs Smart Media, George Colwey and Priyanka Raval

Area in Focus

Reverend Palmer

St Paul’s, through the eyes of the reverend patrolling for peace

For years, the Reverend Dawnecia Palmer – a United Nations Peacemaker – has worked on Bristol's inner-city streets. After a recent spate of stabbings rocked St Paul's, she's praying for an end to the 'pandemic of the blade'.

Priyanka Raval
Priyanka Raval

Interviews

Adult man standing in front of empty wooden bookcases.

Bristol’s top family judge stepping down, to launch project to keep people out of court

Judge Stephen Wildblood lifts the lid on a crisis in public law as he explains his plans to help families get support at community level, out of court.

Sean Morrison
Sean Morrison

Edition 35

An adult male with his arms folded sitting on the bonnet of a car.

Cab driver says good character used against him in ‘cruel sting operation’

Police have questions to answer after private-hire taxi driver’s claims of a stitch-up that’s had years-long financial consequences.

Sean Morrison
Sean Morrison

Reports

The full, bloody story behind the closure of Hidden Corner Cafe

When a millionaire, yacht-owning rogue landlord evicted the owners of a well-loved St Pauls cafe, it sparked protests. And now, two years on, a clearer picture of the messy situation has emerged…

Sean Morrison
Sean Morrison

People's History

Image of former Bristol police chief John Henderson Watson surrounded by his constables

The Bristol police chief embroiled in corruption who died with a razor in his hand

John Henderson Watson had a long and distinguished police career and was Bristol’s chief constable for 14 years – before his career ended in scandal and his disappearance.

David Hewitt
David Hewitt

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with Neil Maggs

Listen: Bristol Unpacked, with activist Jasmine York on being jailed after the Kill the Bill riots

Jasmine York, who was jailed for arson after the 2021 Kill the Bill riots, discusses those days that rocked the city, and abolishing prisons.

Neil Maggs / Maggs Smart Media George Colwey Adam Cantwell-Corn
Neil Maggs / Maggs Smart Media, George Colwey and Adam Cantwell-Corn

Voices

Illustration for knife crime debate article showing contributors, knives and CCTV cameras (credit: @laurence_ware_design)

Is CCTV the answer to Bristol’s knife crime epidemic?

This spring Bristol City Council passed a motion on knife crime, brought by a councillor who lost a friend in an attack in Castle Park. A commitment to increase CCTV grabbed headlines, but will this help? And what else can Bristol do to address the epidemic of violence?

Neil Maggs / Maggs Smart Media
Neil Maggs / Maggs Smart Media

Podcasts

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with Paul Simmons, armed robber turned TikTok addiction mentor

After more than 20 years in prison, Paul has turned to TikTok to work through his own trauma and regrets, and help others along the way.

Neil Maggs / Maggs Smart Media Adam Cantwell-Corn George Colwey
Neil Maggs / Maggs Smart Media, Adam Cantwell-Corn and George Colwey

Features

‘Drill music can be used for positive change’

For 35 years, Bristol has been home to a charity which lets prisoners create music on the inside. Now, a sister record label is supporting them to launch music careers after release.

Aphra Evans
Aphra Evans

Reports

‘This house became the gate to hell’: Bristol modern slavery victims tell of horrific abuse as ringleaders are jailed

Maros Tancos and Joanna Gomulska’s sentencing brings an end to a case charities say highlights the need to address immigration system failures that stop survivors coming forward.

Sean Morrison
Sean Morrison

Police and Crime bill

How stop and search will be entrenched by the Police and Crime Bill

Chair of the Avon and Somerset Lammy Group Desmond Brown says new stop and search powers included in the Police and Crime Bill will entrench a lack of trust in the police.

Hannah Vickers
Hannah Vickers
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