Officers have issued a public update regarding the ongoing investigation following an incident in Bath city centre earlier this week.
On Monday, 29 July, emergency services including police, fire, and ambulance crews attended Stall Street after reports emerged of a woman in possession of a plastic bag who had approached members of the public, subsequently causing them to feel ill. A cordon was quickly established to ensure public safety.
A 73-year-old woman was arrested on the same day in connection with the incident but has since been released under investigation.
Chief Inspector Scott Hill, of the Bath Neighbourhood Policing Team, provided further insight into the investigation: “In the early stages of this incident, it was unclear what had happened. Emergency services have extensive plans for responding to such incidents, and these were executed to ensure treatment was available to anyone in need and to keep the wider public safe.
One person required hospitalization after experiencing breathing difficulties and itchy eyes. We are pleased to report that she was well enough to return home a few hours later.
Chief Inspector Hill continued, “The arrested woman was questioned, and property was searched as part of our routine enquiries to determine whether any crime had occurred. We will always be evidence-led, and at this stage of our investigation, it appears this was an isolated incident with no intentional attempt to harm anybody.”
The Chief Inspector addressed the speculative comments circulating on social media suggesting that the incident was a deliberate act intended to cause harm. “We wanted to be transparent about the status of our investigation to dispel any misinformation. Further enquiries will be carried out, but we hope updating the public on the current investigative progress helps reassure anyone with concerns about what happened. Officers carrying out regular patrols in Bath will be happy to stop and talk to anyone if there are any ongoing concerns we can assist with.”
Police encourage anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward and speak with officers. For those seeking reassurance or wishing to discuss any concerns, officers patrolling Bath city centre are available to provide assistance.
Contact Information:
- Bath Neighbourhood Policing Team: [Contact D
