REDUCING CRIME THROUGH AWARENESS

Safer Streets/ Safer Homes/ Safer Vehicles Operation - Hampshire Police

We Launched a number of schemes within the Gosport Borough using strategically placed Trisigns in car parks and high volume crime areas. These operations proved very effective seeing car crime in targeted spots all but stopped.

This occurrence displaced the levels of crime to other areas hence we employed the Trisigns for many other alternative occurrences. Hot spot areas are now equipped with the Trisigns in set strategic positions within these target areas.

We have found that leaving the signs fitted for a 3 week period then moving them to alternative sites has proved the most effective and hard hitting method of awareness. In conjunction with the Trisigns, we are continuing to target criminal damage, distraction burglary, walk in burglary, car crime, speeding/ dangerous driving, and cycle theft.

Rowner, being a notorious hotspot now has one of the lowest crime occurrences in the entire borough with theft from vehicles in that area being almost non-existent.

Trisigns have been particularly effective in making the public aware of cycle theft hot spot areas which resulted in a dramatic decrease in cycle theft which is now being kept down to a steady trickle.

In general, reaction to the Trisigns has always been very positive. They fit in well as a stand alone reaction to occurrences such as theft from vehicles or as part of a bigger reaction to serious crime and the local public appreciate them as a valuable feature of the neighbourhood.

Stewart Kybert - Crime Reduction Officer, Hampshire Police (Gosport Borough).