HERTFORDSHIRE CRIME PREVENTION NEWS

£5 Million to Help Small Businesses Protect Against Crime

A new grants programme of £5m will help small businesses protect themselves against crime

UK NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

HAVE YOU JOINED NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH ?

The home Office advise us that 35% of all burglaries are crimes of opportunity, where the burglar lets themselves in through unlocked doors or windows and you are ten times more likely to be burgled if you don't have basic security.

What is basic home security?

What does this logo mean?

The official UK Police flagship initiative supporting the principles of 'designing out crime'

Look for the logo printed on the packaging of security related products. Secured by Design focuses on crime prevention at the design, layout and construction stages of homes and commercial premises and promotes the use of security standards for a wide range of applications and products.

St. Albans Neighbourhood Watch Launches 'Bin Buddy'

A smart simple idea - Bin Buddies are neighbours that team up to take turns in putting wheelie bins out whilst the orther party bring them in, leaving no clues as to whether their homes are vacant or not.

PROPERTY MARKING

Back to basics with property marking?.

Free property marking is often carried out at local police stations and community events.

Is basic property marking sufficient or do we need to invest in more advanced systems?

All UK police forces recommend we mark our property. The question is "what is the best product to use?"

Your local crime prevention officer will be able to suggest certain methods, arrange for items to be marked or indeed provide free items such as UV marker pens. In general the police will not officially endorse a product.

The ACPO Sub-Committee on Crime & Disorder Reduction and the Action Against Crime & Disorder Unit of the Home Office have agreed the following statement to update the concept of property marking and identification.

Asset Marking Devices and Registration Databases

To assist in the prevention and detection of crime and the return of stolen property to the rightful owner, property should be marked by a method which is secure, visible and leads to the identity of the owner. In simple form an engraved postcode will suffice.

Where a covert commercial product is used it should identify the owner and be supported with a secure and visible mark which leads the recovering agency to search for the product.

The police service does not test products and, to avoid suggestions of product endorsement, companies offering asset marking devices and private property registers or databases should be directed to comply with Loss Prevention Certification Board standards LPS 1224 and LPS 1225.

Property Marking Products Explained