Here is a round-up of the latest news from police incidents across Gloucestershire as of Tuesday, January 7.
Windows of a house belonging to a woman in her 70s were smashed on Christmas Day in a suspected case of mistaken identity.
Police are appealing for information after all the ground floor windows of the property in Podsmead Place, Gloucester were broken while the owner was inside.
The incident happened shortly after 10.15pm. The woman was left uninjured but terrified by the ordeal.
It is believed the suspects targeted the house in a case of mistaken identity.
Officers are now appealing for anyone who has information about the incident to come forward.
They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who has CCTV or dashcam footage which they believe to be relevant.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police using the following form online, quoting incident 280 of 25 December: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/us/a-crime-that-has-already-been-reported/
Nearly 250 people were arrested in Gloucestershire during December on suspicion of committing domestic abuse related offences.
Six of those detained were arrested on Christmas Day – five on suspicion of physically assaulting a partner, former partner or family member and one on suspicion of harassment with violence.
A further nine people, all men aged between 17 and 54, were arrested on New Year’s Eve – seven on suspicion of physical assaults, one for threats of arson and another for a public order offence.
In total, more than eighty five per cent of those arrested in the last nine days of December (Monday 23 to Tuesday 31 December) were men.
Thirty seven men were arrested on suspicion of assault, 14 men were arrested following reports of harassment while eight men were detained on suspicion of breaching a court order or bail conditions which prevented them from contacting victims.
The youngest person arrested was in their late teens, while the oldest was aged in their 80s.
Every week throughout December police released details of the domestic abuse related arrests made across the county in support of their ongoing approach to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls and in support of the 16 Days of Action campaign.
In total, 244 people were arrested for domestic abuse related offences between 1 December and 31 December – that is nearly eight arrests per day. The figures for both arrests and domestic abuse related crimes reported were the highest they have been since July 2024.
Among those taken into custody was a man aged in his 30s who had head-butted his father, a man in his 40s who had punched his wife in the face and another man, also aged in his 40s who had kicked and punched his mother.
A man in his 30s was arrested following a report he was controlling who his sister can be in a relationship with.
Of the 11 women detained, seven were suspected of committing physical assaults while the other four were arrested for harassment, public order, making threats to kill and criminal damage offences respectively.
Chief Superintendent Kerry Paterson, force lead for tackling Violence Against Women and Girls said: “For many, Christmas is a time of celebration, a time when families get together and enjoy each other’s company.
“Sadly, Christmas for some people in our county this year has not been a happy one as officers have been called to their homes to apprehend their partners, former partners or family members.
“The behaviour of those taken into custody is completely unacceptable and many can now expect to face significant consequences for their actions.”
Chief Supt Paterson added: “We’ve been releasing our arrest data across December to help expose the prevalence of domestic abuse. In doing so, we hope to change attitudes and behaviours and highlight to perpetrators that we will come for them and we will arrest them.
“We also want those who live in fear of those closest to them to know we are here for them and help is available. No one should suffer in silence.”
Professional support is available for anyone who has an abusive partner, former partner or relative – contact Gloucestershire Domestic Abuse Support Service on 01452 726 570 or email: support@gdass.org.uk. More information is available on their website: https://www.gdass.org.uk/
To report a domestic abuse related incident call police on the non-emergency number 101. In an emergency, or if the incident is ongoing, always call 999.
If you are in a position where you need help but cannot physically speak as there is a risk to your safety, you can still get through to the police.
Dial 999 and if you cannot speak to the operator, type 55 on your keypad. Your silent call will be transferred to police and the call handler will be informed that you need help.
The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme gives any member of the public the right to ask the police if their partner may pose a risk to them. It is often called ‘Clare’s Law’ after the landmark case that led to it.
This scheme also allows a member of the public to make an enquiry into the partner of a close friend or family member. For more information on this visit: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/daa/domestic-abuse/alpha2/request-information-under-clares-law/
Police are appealing for information following a burglary near Chipping Campden, Cotswolds in the early hours of Monday.
Officers were alerted to a break-in at an address off the B4479 in the village of Paxford at around 3.45am.
A man forced entry to a property and he was then confronted by an occupant inside the address.
The offender demanded the victim’s car keys and his Rolex watch, and then there was an altercation in the kitchen.
The thief grabbed a knife and made threats before he fled the address. It is believed that there was a second man waiting outside the home.
The victim’s blue Volkswagen Golf with the registration GC65 VCZ was stolen, and it was seen being driven in convoy with a blue BMW in the direction of Blockley.
Police were called and officers attended to search the area for the vehicle. A stinger device was used and the BMW was later found abandoned and has been seized in order for forensic tests to take place.
The stolen Golf and Rolex have not yet been located and anyone who has information on their whereabouts is asked to come forward.
The victim was not injured but is shaken by the ordeal.
House to house enquiries have taken place and investigating officers are keen to hear from anyone who has CCTV, dashcam footage or information which could assist them.
You can provide information to police online by completing the following form and quoting incident 36 of 6 January: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/