Contact: Malcolm Wilton, Force Crime Prevention Manager (79-1728)

Contact: Malcolm Wilton, Force Crime Prevention Manager (79-1728)

A ‘snapshot’ of OCU/District crime prevention initiatives/campaigns was compiled for the Committee in January 2008; this ‘paper’ has now been updated. Additional and updated information will appear initalics. As with the initial ‘paper’ it is stressed that this is just a brief overview and if necessary further information can be provided.

The majority of these initiatives/campaigns will come under the Force Safer Campaigns; Safer Homes – Safer Vehicles – Safer Streets – Safer Roads – Safer Neighbourhoods. Many will also be part of a PRIME (Problem Resolution In A Multi Agency Environment) Scheme.

1 OCU CENTRAL

WINCHESTER

In Dec 2007 a vehicle crime initiative to reduce thefts from rural car parks was instigated. The initiative took the form of a competition with the winning entry receiving aSatellite Navigation System.

Entry forms were handed out by police officers, PCSOs and CarPark Wardens at the various rural car parks, together with Safer Vehicle crime prevention leaflets and where possible advice was given by officers to the public;

153 entries were received but many more people received crime prevention advice.

Result - A disabled lady from Winchester won the Sat-Nav, an article on the outcome of this competition appeared in various local newspapers

Rural Car Parks - signs have been erected at all the rural car parks advising visitors not to leave valuables in their cars - there has been a 60% decrease in vehicle crime in the rural car parks.

An initiative is starting soon to identify vulnerable elderly persons and take some action re target hardening to prevent them being victims of doorstep crime.

Update - Several properties have been identified and measures are now in place. WinchesterCity Council are looking at improving physical security at their sheltered housing.

Winchester City Council are likely to have been awarded 7 new ‘Park Mark’ (ACPO Safer Parking Scheme) awards for facilities in and around the City.

3 others have just had the award extended for another year.

GOSPORT & FAREHAM

Fareham & Gosport are in the process of carrying out a programme to enable PCSOs in identifying likely victims of artifice crime (distraction burglary). The PCSOs will then be in a position to make contact with the potential victims and establish the risk and take measures to reduce that risk with target hardening and other appropriate actions; Crime Prevention Officers and Crime Prevention Design Advisors will act in a ‘tactical advisor’ role.

Gosport - continuing with tackling Sat Nav theft with an awareness campaign that involves various signs displayed around the Borough and the assistance of retailers of Sat-Navs distributing information leaflets.

Cycle theft programmes still running - Cycle coding and security talks being given at schools etc. The lock it or lose it campaign has finished - the supply and instruction of locks and their correct use.

Currently looking at scrap metal / lead thefts and possibly working with Smartwater to support / protect ecclesiastical sites.

Fareham have been awarded 3 new ‘Park Mark’ facilities

HAVANT

No Cold Calling Zone – Pilot was successful, the signs now established remain in place and the benefit of the scheme is still ongoing.

Vehicle Crime Initiative – A Safer Vehicle initiative which is based around the use of “Tri-Signs” suitably affixed which gives advice to members of the public and can be a warning to would be criminals; basically an information based initiative.

• Vehicle initiative still on-going when required

Burglary Initiative – packs are delivered to 20 houses in close proximity to that of a burgled house; the packs offer crime prevention advice in relation to improving home security (need to exercise caution with this approach so as to minimise the potential increase in ‘fear of crime’.)

Crime Reduction Interviews – the Crime Prevention Officer is currently preparing material for a series of ‘slots’ that will be broadcast on local radio.

The broadcast messages will contain a wide range of crime prevention and community safety advice.

• Crime reduction interviews now being broadcast

Bogus Caller Initiative – this will be an OCU initiative using PCSOs, as with Fareham & Gosport in an attempt to identify and target the most vulnerable to prevent them from becoming a victim of this type of crime; this process is still be mapped through.

• Bogus caller initiative still on-going, I am hoping to develop this using a cocoon watch and also Havant ‘well being’ forum

2 OCU ISLE OF WIGHT

Lights on Campaign - distribution of leaflets and free timer switches - Beat Officers/PCSO's would spot a premises in darkness and leave a note through the door advising the occupier that they can collect a free timer switch from their local police station.

The ‘Lights On’campaign was not successful, with few people coming to the police station to collect switches. Now trying a different way of distribution for October this year….fire safety officers are going to have a supply and give them out as and when they do fire surveys….

Hotel Watch - ongoing - Production of booklet for hotel owners of general crime prevention along with leaflets for staff and then holiday makers. The hope is to have this scheme up and running by Easter providing the funding can be secured.

Hotels and Tourism guide – has been held up due to some concerns over the contents of the document.

Marine - due to the large problem of marine equipment theft, IOW are looking at running some crime prevention days at local yacht clubs giving out advice/ leaflets and hopefully boat alarms….currently testing 3 alarms to see which one suits.

Marine - one alarm has come out as top performer BUT we are having funding issues. Sgt in charge of project still works on it with marine unit.

Bike Safe - prior to Christmas, IOWran a bike safe event giving out free lights, alarms and safety equipment to those who 'wrapped' their bikes and registered on

Cycle thefts are still high on agenda….we are now adding bike wrapping days to CREW weeks and still giving away free lights and alarms.

Car Crime - we have just purchased a number of tri-signs with three messages, wing mirrors, don’t keep belongings in the car etc. This is part of a targeted patrol strategy and a number of operations will be carried out at the end of the month to target 'hotspots'.

Rogue Traders - working in partnership with trading standards to target traders and in particular camp sites….grapevine system has been set up to advise police and other campsites when identified ‘traders’ are on the island…

Smartwater - launched on 18th April. Given free to victims of domestic burglary and owners of beach huts.

‘Know where your children are’ - campaign to target anti-social behaviour and juvenile nuisance.

3 OCU NORTH & EAST

BASINGSTOKE

The latest SmartWater roll-out is organised for February 10th & 11th in Tadley; approximately 100 houses will be offered the opportunity to have their contents marked with the unique smartwater solution.

Tadley launch completed February with100 houses fully ‘property marked’

Two roll-outs have been made since August 07, with approximately 500 houses in South Ham and a100 houses in North Waltham having the ability to have their home contents marked. To date the areas have not suffered any repeat burglaries.

Still covering all Theft From Vehicle and Burglary Dwelling occurrences.

Trap Car signs have gone up at Hotels, Rural Pubs and Beauty Spots.

The Crime Prevention Officer is currently working with the Rural Inspector and the Force Partnership Development Manager in an effort to secure funding from a local source to introduce smartwater into the rural areas.

A joint arson/burglary prevention Wheelie-Bin leaflet is being produced; this is a partnership effort, involving the Basingstoke Council & the Fire Service. The leaflet will be distributed to households and will give advice on safe and secure storage of Wheelie Bins in relation to Burglary and Arson.

This is on going.

Some new Vehicle Crime posters for petrol stations and retail outlets, warning of Theft from Vehicle, have been produced and will be used in conjunction with a Safer Vehicle campaign.

These have gone out.

Safer Vehicle Scheme - VAS1 – Vulnerable Awareness Scheme is ongoing; working in conjunction with the local authority – Parking Attendants – ACSOs – PCSOs – Beat Officers – Fire Fighters – Environmental Health Officers all have VAS 1 Forms – when a vulnerable vehicle is seen (vulnerable in the sense that there are valuables on display i.e Sat Nav – mobile phone etc) a VAS1 is completed with the details – a PNC check is carried out to obtain the RK and then a standard letter, together with a Safer Vehicle leaflet is sent to the RK. Evaluation and analysis of this scheme is currently being carried out by the local authority analyst.

This is on going.

“Op Shut Outs” completed, mainly in the rural areas, but some due in the town. 7 to date.

Sanctuary Scheme still on going, although no recent referrals.

RUSHMOOR DISTRICT

Currently the Aldershot area is trialling the Nominated Neighbour scheme in one particular beat; this is being ‘worked up’ with the SNT officers.

The Nominated Neighbour Scheme has been slow due to circumstances beyond the control of the OCU. The CPO has met with the Analysts and OCU media people and are looking at a bigger promotion push, both internally and externally. The CPO will be meeting Phil Mills from Trading Standards' Protecting Older People group to discuss how they could assist each other and whether Nominated Neighbour Scheme could complement NCCZ(No Cold Calling Zones), one of which has been set up in Aldershot. Also looking into having it offered as part of the Distraction burglary pack. ONGOING

The Crime Prevention Officer is shortly going to run a Shed break/garage break initiative as there has been a large surge in such crime in the area.

Shed security leaflets will be distributed at hardware stores and garden centres etc, as well as through mail drops by PCSOs and VCRU to residents in the vicinity of shed breaks utilising the spatial victimisation approach.

In line with the Shed break initiative there has been an increase in fishing equipment/tackle being stolen locally. Work in progress with the local fishing and tackle shop, to identify recovered property and as a point of marking fishing equipment at point of sale. NEW

Rushmoor is currently running a cycle marking scheme where cycles are marked with a cycle wrap and the details are recorded onto the Bike Safe card. The police also keep a copy of the details and take a photograph of the bike which is all inputted onto a spreadsheet.

Each bike marked is given a unique code (the usual postcode marking method pre-empted with RA or RF) which is kept on the bike safe card so in the event that a marked bicycle does go missing then the aggrieved can quote the reference number and a photo of the bike will be available.

The cycle marking scheme continues and we have had a 'success' where a bicycle stolen in a shed break was recovered and through the marking scheme was reunited with its lawful owner. The PCSOs have been into various schools to mark bikes as well as at CREW events. ONGOING

HART & EAST HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT

Operation shutout - police and partnership response to a burglary in an area by inviting a minimum of 100 ‘circumference’ houses to a meeting to be given advice on property security and public reassurance talk. A patrol car is in the given vicinity whilst residents attend the meeting.

To date approximately 25 talks have been given across 3 OCU and the scale of public reassurance has escalated. Evaluation will be undertaken to ascertain if the implementation of security measures by the public and their new awareness has helped to reduce burglary dwelling crime.

4 OCU PORTSMOUTH

Smartwater - being launched on 7/8/9th January in Southsea in an area identified using Cobra methodology as being no. 3 in the ‘Top 20’ roads for dwelling burglaries.

Private Landlords - Working with PCC Housing on introducing an accreditation scheme for private landlords to have a recognised standard of security in the premises that they let/rent out.

No Cold Calling Zones - Following evaluation PCC have agreed that the scheme can be rolled out across the City. Working with Trading Standards and other partner agencies to target known 'hot spots'

Op Magpie (Burglary) - Part of the remit of the CPOs is to involve Second Hand dealers in the initiative. To date 19 have joined the scheme and these are to be re-visited and others are going to be actively encouraged to join.

Op Mississippi (Distraction Burglary) - In the early stages of planning. To run on random days in the summer months following the anticipated 'Force Rogue Traders Day'

Cycle coding initiative - on-going; The Cycle Crime Steering Grouphas nowbeen disbanded due to change in force priorities; however, the City CentreUnit (PC04) have taken on responsibility of thePRIME project. Portsmouth has bought a trap cycle that has been put out in the main problem area a few times with at least 2 people caught. CCTV operators have been asked to be aware of anything suspicious around the cycle stands, which have also resulted in some positive identification of the perpetrators. There was a problem of the police call-takers not collecting sufficient details about where the cycles were stolen from so signs have been installed at the cycle stands in the Commercial Rd area that identifies each stand with a letter, stand A, B, C etc. The call-takers can then ask if the cycle was locked at any particular stand, which would then highlight a stand for a police operation. There are further cycle coding dates to beheld in Commercial Rd, The Hard andGuildhall Square. Some funding has been obtained to purchase Sold Secure cycle locks at a greatly reduced price of £5, which are sold on the cycle codingevents.

Hotelwatch - initial stages. - working with Portsmouth and Southsea Hotel Association (PASHA) and Portsmouth City Council to start a Hotelwatch scheme. The idea is to start the project in Southsea with the intention of it spreading city-wide. An invitation to join the scheme hasbeing sent out to proprietors followed by a questionnaire to establish baseline data highlighting the amount and type of crimes committed against hoteliers and their guests. An initial meeting with interested parties was held on 30th April with an audience of about 20 people. It is envisaged that there would be e-mail contact between all parties to highlight any criminal activities/ ASB etc. as and when it happens. Window stickers have beendesigned for each premise to display. Safer Neighbourhood Teams will visit the premises on a regular basis and also attend the quarterly meetings. A protocol for sharing of information is to be drawn up as is a code of conduct for all parties involved. A radio pressrelease went out on Spirit FM on 30th April and the scheme will also be highlighted on Quay Radio sometime in May.

Cobra is on-going. - a 12 month rolling spreadsheet is kept to highlight roads/ streets/ car parks that increase in crimes and raise to the next level as defined by the Cobra model. There are Cobra SPOCs (single point of contacts) at each station who co-ordinates the delivery of postcards and posters etc. for general education and awareness as well as working with the CPO to identify where the Cobra street signs should be erected within specifically targeted areas. The CPO also works closely with the Volume Crime dept. as well as the Priority Crime Unit.

The CPO recently delivereda training package to the Cobra SPOCs, Senior Community Wardens and SN Sergeants. This wasawareness training around the strategy and methodology of Cobra, as well as how the delivery groups work and how the teams on the ground can use Cobra, including the use of the intranet and internet. The feed back was extremely positive, with many participants saying the training was a much needed refresher while others said it raised awareness of things that weren't included in their initial training.

The CPO is also working with the Safer Neighbourhood on the PNC letter to motorist’s initiative. It has grown significantly in recent months and the OCU are now looking to streamline the project, possibly with the SNTs sending the letters from their own areas and keeping individual data bases that would be collated on a monthly basis for quality control issues. The CPO conducted adip-sample of the customers who have received letters to find out if they have changed their habits around leaving items on display in vehicles in an effort to evaluate the project. In the main, the initiative is received positively. Amember of staff has approached 'Brainwaves' regarding changing the way in which the PNC letters are distributed making it possible for the PCSOs to add the details directly to a standard letter via the intranet without it having to pass through the management assistants.