Today, police forces and Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships across the country are focussing their efforts as part of a national day of action to tackle burglary. Activity will include arrest operations and community work such as street briefings, safety roadshows and practical work fitting security devices at the homes of vulnerable people.
The action comes as the Home Secretary announced free burglary prevention advice and a crackdown on repeat burglars as part of a new package of support to help the public protect themselves from burglary and help keep crime down.
The package is part of wider government action to help increase people's personal security, particularly those who are the most vulnerable to burglary and ensure that criminals face the consequences of their crimes.
It follows a burglary summit hosted by the Home Secretary in February which brought together representatives from charities, public and private sector organisations to discuss practical measures to keep crime down, backed up by a £20 million fund. Today's announcement sets out how £15 million of that fund will be spent. It includes:
* Intensified police operations around the country to turn the tables on repeat burglars, with burglary a top priority for the police nationally. This will be backed by £3 million funding in targeted areas, to step up the monitoring and management of burglars on release from prison;
* A free advice pack for people concerned about becoming victims of burglary that provides simple and practical advice on what they can do to prevent it. It includes discount vouchers for home security products from B&Q and Focus, a DIY company;
* A new £6 million Safer Homes fund to pay for local handy-people to visit up to 45,000 homes of people who are less likely to have good home security, such as older people and people on low incomes, and install security devices such as window locks making those houses more secure; and
* New advice from insurers on what home security measures householders can install to get the best deal from the insurance market.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:
"Burglary has more than halved in the last ten years. The public are our best weapon in fighting crime and I want us all to work together to stop those criminals who may think they can take advantage in tough times.
"We are better equipped than ever before to meet the current challenges and all over the country police are turning the tables on burglars, cracking down on those who repeatedly offend. There are lots of simple, practical steps we can take to secure our home in the new free burglary prevention pack that I am making available to everyone. I am delighted to be working with leading DIY stores B&Q and Focus DIY to ensure that home security equipment is as affordable as possible. This will run alongside a Home Office funded handyman scheme to secure over 45,000 homes."
Some of the work carried out in the North West includes:
* Halton: Community Development Officers, Fire Safety Officers and PCSOs are providing high-visibility activity including home security and safety checks and offer of smartwater kits;
* West Cumbria: offering Crime Prevention surveys - all PCSOs in West Cumbria have been trained to do them;
* Wirral: having an 'Arrest Day' targeting named offenders;
* Ribble Valley: officers and PCSOs will carry out foot patrols checking whether properties & vehicles are secure and where they aren't try to secure them or ensure a letter is sent to the owner advising them of security measures to be taken;
* Tameside: holding a campaign to generate intelligence via Crimestoppers by targeting the night-time economy.
