Police chief says sorry to grieving family - but still wants memorial moved
Michael-Lee Rice's family want a memorial to remain where it sits, at least until the summer
A wreath on the memorial to Michael-Lee Rice in Knowle (Image: Dan Regan/BristolLive)
Want the top crime stories from Bristol? Sign up for our new email updates on Crime & Punishment
A senior police officer has personally apologised to a grieving mother for "any confusion" when suggesting that a memorial to her son should be relocated.
Tributes to motorcyclist Michael-Lee Rice have been fixed to a fence on Ilminster Avenue, Knowle, since the 20-year-old's death in April 2019.
Chief Inspector Nigel Colson angered Michael-Lee's family by asking whether they would consider moving the shrine to a "more appropriate space".
But now a second letter from the same officer, dated January 8, has been sent to Michael-Lee's mum Donna Rice.
It states: "I wanted to write to you again firstly to apologise for any confusion that might have been caused by my previous letter."
The memorial to Michael-Lee Rice, who died in April 2020 (Image: Dan Regan/BristolLive)
The chief inspector wrote that he had "never suggested" the police would remove the memorial, adding: "I understand that you have spoken about moving the memorial to your garden, and I am simply offering any assistance that might help make that happen sooner rather than later."
The previous letter, dated January 2, expressed a desire to see the memorial moved due to a perceived rise in crime and anti-social behaviour since it was put up.
Ch Insp Colston initially wrote: "I would like to work with you, and with the council, in order to possibly relocate the memorial to a more appropriate space as soon as possible.
"I would much rather do this in a spirit of understanding and cooperation than I would through the use of more serious options, such as examining enforcement powers against the owner of the land."
The fight for hope in Bristol's most deprived area
News of the latest move comes amid a mix in public reaction on social media.
Scores of comments were posted below an article on the Bristol Live Facebook page yesterday (January 8), with a majority voicing support for the tributes remaining where they are.
But a number of people took a more critical tone, focusing on the size of the display, its presence in a public place, and the view that more crime has occurred in the area since it was created.
When Bristol Live asked Miss Rice for her opinions on the comments, she said she had tried not to look at them herself.
Michael-Lee Rice's family with a petition calling for the memorial to remain where it stands. L-R: Girlfriend Sophie Selwood, his mum Donna Rice and his step-father Jason Maggs (Image: Dan Regan/BristolLive)
When told about some of the critical posts, however, the 39-year-old defended the shrine and her attempts to protect it.
She said: "I had to put up this fight for my son because if it was me, he would have been the same."
Addressing the perception, first raised by the police, that crime and anti-social behaviour has become more common in the Newquay Road area in the last nine months, she said she "totally disagreed" with that argument.
She said: "I've lived here for 21 years and there's always been trouble - that's why there's been a camera [near the junction of Ilminster Avenue and Newquay Road] from the beginning."
Sixteen-year-old admits killing motorcyclist after pulling YoBike into his path
Miss Rice did say, however, that she intends to move the memorial to her house by the summer, when she hopes her garden will be finished.
"The aim is to have the garden finished by the summer and I will just have it [the memorial] in my own garden. That's where it should be, in my eyes."
She said her garden is currently like a building site and not in a fit condition to host the shrine.
"If I can keep it there [on Ilminster Avenue] until the summer I'll be over the moon," Miss Rice said.
She revealed she has an appointment with a police community liaison officer on Monday (January 13), adding that a petition demonstrating support for keeping the memorial in its current position now has more than 1,000 signatures.
For the latest news in and around Bristol, visit and bookmark Bristol Live's homepage .
You can follow us on Twitter here and on Facebook here and here .
You can also join our traffic and travel, crime and parenting Facebook groups.
Marvin ReesMarvin Rees says that Boris Johnson's apology 'won't be enough'The Bristol Mayor says that Boris Johnson may stay in office 'until we all give up'
Graduates hit with 'real-term tax rise' by government
StudentsEducation minister Michelle Donelan says she will freeze the student loan repayment threshold
Morrisons confirms it dims lights in stores to cut carbon emissions
MorrisonsIt also serves to reduce night time light pollution