High-tech equipment, including 'trap houses' fitted with hidden cameras and tagged property, is being used by police to catch burglars thanks to a £2m cash boost Home Office Minister Alan Campbell announced today.
The money from the Securing Homes programme (new window) was allocated to 16 forces across the country to buy technology to improve burglary detection. Some of the items purchased by forces included automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems, tracking equipment, forensic scanners, intruder alarms, CCTV and property marking kits.
Some forces have used the funding to set up 'trap houses' and 'trap vehicles'. These are used in areas which police believe are being targeted by burglars. When criminals break into the property or vehicle, they could be recorded by hidden cameras or any items taken may be remote tagged or marked with ultraviolet inks allowing police to quickly track it down and make arrests.
Statement from the Home Office Minister
Alan Campbell said, 'Burglary has fallen by 54 per cent since 1997 and these are encouraging signs that our pro-active approach to crimes like burglary is having an impact. However, we can still do more and this funding is just one part of a wider strategy to ensure this downward trend continues.
'This new equipment will not only help police catch the criminals who harm communities, it will help prevent crime as well. Once burglars realise the home they’re breaking into might be covered by hidden cameras they might start to think twice.
'Alongside this funding we are securing 60,000 homes across the country against burglary and through our Vigilance Programme are tightening the net on known offenders in 35 areas.'
Forces are already seeing results thanks to the new equipment. As part of Operation Breaker in Oxford, prolific burglar Jason Medlicott, 35, of Croft Road, Marston was jailed for two years and nine months after being caught breaking into a ‘trap room’ set up in halls of residence at a university in Oxford. Medlicott initially denied the offence but when officers showed him the video footage he admitted the offence in full.
Statement from the Detective Superintendent of Thames Valley Police
Barry Halliday said ,'This is just one example of how this type of offence is now being investigated. The use of technology supported by methodical detailed investigations not only secures evidence in relation to the one offence, but often leads to other similar offences and those who benefit from burglary being detected and brought to justice.'
Statement from the Acting Assistant Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police
Andy Taylor said, 'Operation Breaker highlights the significant impact this type of activity is having on our ability to continue to improve our performance around burglary detections and build on our significant reductions for this type of offence.'
In addition to ‘trap house’ facilities, Thames Valley Police has increased the number of traffic cameras across its jurisdiction which is linked to its ANPR system 24 hours a day. This makes it even easier for suspect vehicles to be spotted and flagged to police.
Notes to editors
The police forces which received funding were: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Humberside, North Yorkshire, Thames Valley, South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, Metropolitan Police and West Midlands.
The Securing Homes (new window) initiative is a £15m package announced by the Home Office (new window) in April 2009, which includes a wide range of measures combining tough enforcement action by police with support and education to the public and targeted help for those communities most at risk from burglary. It includes the £6m Safer Homes Fund which provides grants to community organisations to pay for local handypeople to physically secure up to 60,000 homes in priority areas across England and Wales. It targets those most at risk of or concerned about being victims of burglary such as students, people in socially deprived areas and older people.
The Vigilance Programme is a £3m package of support to help 35 areas tackle and prevent burglary and personal robbery. It includes a crackdown on known offenders, particularly offenders released from short term prison sentences, with more proactive methods. Participating areas will also be provided with pre-emptive support, training and additional resources for areas across the country that have started to see rises in burglary and robbery over the last 12 months.
For information about how local forces have used the funding contact the force press office.
© Crown copyright material reproduced with the permission of the Controller of HMSO and the Queen's Printer for Scotland
