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Police and
security experts warn communities to be vigilant in a bid to tackle
burglaries as dark nights loom
POLICE and security experts
have called on neighbours to join forces in a bid to tackle
burglaries as dark nights loom. 73% of UK homeowners would
like to see more vigilance in their communities, according to a
survey by home security firm ADT launched today. But 68% said they
hardly know any of their neighbours after living on their street for
an average of 6 years.
The research comes as new statistics reported a significant increase
in burglaries during the autumn months; up to 10% in some places.
According to UKCrimeStats1, covering England and Wales in the last 4
years, reported break-ins totalled 35,798 in September, before
leaping to 39,953 in October and peaking at 40,428 November.
Figures from the year before put these totals at 40,684 in October
and 42,428 in November - a contrast with the summer months.
With experts agreeing on the link between darker nights and higher
levels of domestic burglary, police want to encourage communities to
form alliances to help deter thieves.
In the ADT survey of 2,000 British householders, nearly
½ said
they had been burgled or knew someone who has been burgled on their
street.
Another 26% admitted that this made them feel unsafe in their
neighbourhood and 17% even claimed that they want to move house
because of the burglaries. But despite half of homeowners admitting
they would feel safer knowing that their neighbours are keeping an
eye out, 31% admitted they didn't trust their neighbour enough to
leave a house key with them. And another 27% of residents said they
would worry they would appear nosey or interfering if they reported
unusual behaviour.
Mark Shaw, Residential Business Director of ADT, the UK's largest
security firm, said:- “When a burglary takes place in your
home or on the street that you live on, it can make you feel scared
and vulnerable. Anxiety can be reduced by communities working
together to keep an eye out, as well as improving security in their
properties.”
54% of those questioned said that they had left a door and window
open or unlocked when rushing to leave their house to get to work or
ferry the kids to school. 3 in 10 householders admit that they had
returned from a school run to find the door wide open or unlocked.
National Policing Lead on Burglary, Assistant Chief Constable Gareth
Morgan said:- “November is often a peak month for burglaries,
with criminals taking advantage of the darker nights and hoping to
steal the high value goods people may buy in the lead up to
Christmas.
Seemingly small measures can really go a long way towards protecting
homes, such as timer switches and ensuring that doors and windows
have the right protection. It is largely down to this increased
vigilance that we have seen reports of burglary decrease by nearly a
half in the last decade, but this should not distract householders
from the on-going need to keep their home secure.”
ADT and independent charity Victim Support have pledged to work
together for 3 years on the Take No More campaign. The
initiative includes free crime prevention schemes for householders
and aims to increase awareness of support services for burglary
victims and to try ensure they get justice in court.
Latest crime figures show that there were 443,000 domestic
burglaries in England and Wales in the 12 months to March 2014, a 4% drop on the previous year.
Residents of South Yorkshire were most affected, with 1.19% of the
region's population victims of domestic burglary, followed by West
Yorkshire and Humberside. |
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Lottery funding
to help voluntary sector access European funding
THE Big Lottery Fund has awarded £79,897 of Lottery funding to 5 organisations across
the North West to raise awareness within the Voluntary, Community
and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector of the opportunities available
through the European Social Fund (ESF). The funded projects will
provide advice and guidance on the European funding that will be
matched by the Big Lottery Fund in their Local Enterprise
Partnership (LEP) areas and will be available from 2015.
Over the next few years the Big Lottery Fund plans to put up £260
million of National Lottery funding to match a similar figure from
Europe, subject to sign off from the European Commission at the end
of this year. Together, the matched funds will be used to tackle
poverty and promote social inclusion.
The money from Europe comes from a new seven year cycle of European
funding; the European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF) Growth
programme, of which ESF is one part. It will support a wide range of
projects including improving employability for the most
disadvantaged, helping those with multiple and complex needs,
improving financial literacy, and helping communities to overcome
challenges in their lives.
Dawn Austwick, Chief Executive of the Big Lottery Fund said:-
“Historically voluntary organisations have often found it difficult
to access European funding. Through this development funding, we
will help ensure there is widespread awareness of the opportunities
available through the ESF, and will bring the Voluntary Community
and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector together to discuss local needs
already identified by LEPs and how best to tackle these priorities.”
Cheshire Community Foundation Limited (CCF) will use its grant of
£19,897 to work with and engage the voluntary sector in the Cheshire
and Warrington LEP area. An action plan will be delivered aiming to
raise awareness and understanding of European funding and LEP
priorities through a series of events and master classes.
Cumbria Council for Voluntary Service in Eden is awarded £10,000 to
work with partners to deliver a package of support including
publicity, events and training to equip VCSE organisations with the
skills and knowledge to secure European funding for good quality
projects.
Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisations (GMCVO) will
work with Network for Europe and New Economy (Greater Manchester LEP)
to build a wider understanding of Greater Manchester’s ESF plans
with its grant of £20,000. It will help organisations to identify if
European funding is an appropriate way of tackling local issues they
wish to address.
ONE Lancashire Limited in Preston is awarded £20,000 to establish a
database of groups interested in European funding to disseminate
information about ESF opportunities. It will also hold two
information events and workshops and aims to enable VCSE
organisations to establish interest in involvement in projects or
partnerships.
Sefton Council for Voluntary Service along with partners Network for
Europe, and Liverpool CVS is granted £10,000. The partnership will
use their existing knowledge, skills, networks and relationship with
Liverpool City Region LEP to raise widespread awareness of European
funding amongst the VCSE sector via workshops, e-networks, websites
and newsletters.
Further information about the development grants awarded today in 36
LEP areas across England and how you can contact them can be found
on the Big Lottery Fund's website at:-
biglotteryfund.org.uk/esf.
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