Bristol police tweet from behind the scenes this Christmas

Bristol police took to Twitter this Christmas so that online followers can go behind the scenes.

Tweets from @ASPoliceLive included: "Drunk elf update, now safely on the pavement dancing next to a man playing a guitar in a shop doorway in #taunton #xmasudeserve."

The last Friday before Christmas is traditionally one of the busiest nights of the year for the emergency services as thousands of people go out on the town to celebrate at Christmas parties.

Police staff accompanied police officers and used Twitter to tweet everything they encountered, to give the public a behind the scenes look at the work police do to keep party-goers safe in Avon and Somerset at Christmas-time.

Three members of staff followed policing teams in Bristol, Taunton and South Gloucstershire and one member of staff was based in the 999 call-centre at Police HQ feeding back the key happenings across the force area.

Officers working across the force area dealt with everything from attempted suicides to missing persons through to people being drunk and disorderly, fights and criminal damage.

Key happenings during the night included officers who arrested a man with a nasty switch blade and arresting a man who refused to leave the city centre after being issued a section 27 notice banning him from the city centre for 24 hours.

Chief Superintendent Jon Stratford said: "As well as enforcing the law and protecting the public, part of our job is to let people know what we're doing to keep them safe and tackle any issues where they live. The Twitter feed is designed to give people the chance to see how we police during one of the busiest nights of the year."

If you would like to view the Twitter feed visit www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/christmas

The Avon & Somerset police have also released a YouTube video called 'Don't have a Nightmare this Christmas' with the NHS and the licensees of one of Bristol's busiest bars.