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Loughboroughs Post Card Approach To Crime
Posted on 19/09/2008
The police in the North of Leicestershire are sending postcards to all repeat offenders across the area warning them to stop committing crime.
The cards, which feature pictures of Loughborough Police Station and police cells on the front with the message Wish you were here? will be hand delivered to prolific and persistent offenders in Loughborough, Charnwood, North West Leicestershire, Melton and Rutland. They are part of a three month operation to tackle vehicle crime and burglary across the North.
The postcards warn known criminals to stop offending or their next destination could be prison. The majority of crime across Leicestershire is committed by a minority of prolific offenders. These are the people the police on the North Area are targeting with the Wish you were here? campaign.
Other parts of the operation include high profile patrols, covert operations using rat trap equipment fitted to vehicles.
However the postcard which starts with the words:" We thought wed send you a postcard to tell you we are taking a renewed interest in your criminal activities" has been viewed by some as increasing the alienation of the police force. One person told in Loughborough " You could get someone who is trying to get on the straight and narrow and avoid crime ask themselves Why bother if I am going to be treated as a criminal".
Since 2006, burglary is down 15% and all vehicle crime is down 10% on the North Area (figures are from April 1st 2006 to September 11 2006 compared to the same period in 2007). This year is showing a slight increase. Since April 1st 2008 and September 11 2008 there has been a 7% rise in burglaries and a 9% rise in vehicle crime. Many criminlogists suggest that crime will increase further as unemployment rises and their are less opportunities available.
Superintendent Jez Cottrill, from Loughborough said; "We could see that crime was beginning to increase in certain areas and wanted to run a campaign to stop the problem growing any further. We will be using a range of tactics, from high visibility patrols to plain clothed patrols in known hot spot areas. We will be using rat trap vehicles across the North and putting on patrols dedicated to this operation at key times in key places and, of course, writing to repeat offenders to tell them that they are under scrutiny.
"As well as targeting persistent offenders and locking criminals up, an important part of the initiative will involve attempting to encourage them to move away from a life of crime.
"To do this we will be looking to other partners such as the probation service and housing agencies to provide the necessary support to help divert offenders away from crime."
Close Up of the pictures on the postcard:
