Shops / avon and somerset police
Festive fun at the Christmas Cop Shop
For its seventh year, the Christmas Cop Shop has come to the Galleries Shopping Centre, complete with police car, mock crime scene and a real-life police dog.
The Cop Shop has already been a resounding success: on its first day, the team were visited by Bristol’s Lord Mayor, who opened the shop and over three hundred people passed through the doors. PCSO Warren Rodgers, the main organiser of this event, has been bowled over by the enthusiastic response: “I’ve been speaking to people non-stop all day – it’s been quite manic, but it’s brilliant to see the support,” he said.
The Cop Shop is on the ground floor of The Galleries, at the entrance near Pret A Manger
In an effort to spread the Christmas cheer, the police are working with Wallace and Gromit’s Grand Appeal this year and will be collecting gifts for Bristol Children’s Hospital. You can donate presents in the run up Christmas, which will then be passed on to children spending the festive season in hospital.
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Alongside this, the Cop Shop will host a bake sale with the police cadets. Visitors have already been very generous, and local businesses have been making donations, including John Bibbington of the Six for a Fiver store, who delivered several hundred fidget spinners on day one.
Of the various entertaining attractions on offer this year, there have been some big hits so far. Visitors have the chance to explore the police car parked in front of the shop and meet a working drugs dog, all while taking the opportunity to ask the officers more about what their jobs involve.
The Cop Shop’s fake crime scene
Most exciting, though, is the ‘CSI’ competition, which allows budding detectives to try out their crime scene investigation skills. Inside the Cop Shop is a detailed mock-up of a crime scene, along with snippets of evidence for visitors to try to piece together.
Other groups will also be sharing the shop space on the ground floor of the shopping centre. UWE Policing Society, Bristol City Council and Wessex 4×4 Response will be there over the course of the month. The Freewheelers Emergency Voluntary Response will have a motorbike on display in the shop and Cycle Republic will be available to advise you on bike security.
The shop will be up and running until December 23, along with its team of friendly police officers. PCSO Rodgers said: “We’re here to help people stay safe at Christmas so please pop in to see us. If the kids are bored of being dragged round the shops, then stop by as we have loads of activities to keep them busy and some great prizes to give away, which have been kindly donated by a whole host of local retailers.”
Cop Shop, Ground Floor, The Galleries
69 Broadmead
Bristol
BS1 3DX
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