‘Acquisitive crime’ covers aspects of theft and robbery including street crime, business and retail crime and vehicle crime.
More information on the national picture
Bristol
In Bristol the Avon and Somerset Constabulary Operation Atrium is a multi-agency police-led operation based at Trinity Road police station in Bristol. Its primary aim is to tackle violent drug related crime. This is in response to the increase of open drug dealing on the streets and the rises in crimes linked with this such as robbery and violent crimes. The operation began in February 2001 as a low key intelligence gathering exercise but has since grown into a high profile pro-active policing initiative targeting serious and organised criminals in Bristol. Find out more from the Avon and Somerset Constaulary website
Bournemouth
The Bournemouth persistent offender scheme, the ‘Pier Project’, has massive potential to reduce drug-related criminality by co-ordinating the activity of several agencies to provide lifestyle support for individual offenders and their families. The scheme will provide a positive impact upon the levels of dwelling burglary, robbery and vehicle crime in the area.
Dorset
In Dorset a local police-backed trust together with local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships has developed a community musical taking the audience back to 1945, a time when the community worked together. Through the medium of lyrics, scripts and music, TRICKSTER uses reminiscence learning to bring home key safety and security messages to the elderly and most vulnerable in our community.
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire's ‘Streetsafe’ is one of five 'safe' initiatives introduced by the Constabulary, designed to tackle crime across the county. Special tactics are used to defuse situations and deter offenders before crime occurs. More information is on the Gloucestershire Constabulary website
Devon and Cornwall
In the Devon and Cornwall peninsular an insurance company has agreed to distribute leaflets to its policy-holders about Devon and Cornwall Constabulary’s Countryside Watch initiative, which aims to tackle the crime against rural property problem. Countryside Watch offers crime prevention advice and encourages people to mark their property and record serial numbers. NFU Mutual insures thousands of farmers, businesses and people living in isolated areas of the West Country. Regional area manager Alan Milstead said: “This link will help get police in touch with our members to beat property crime in rural areas. With so many policy-holders in the rural community, it makes sense for us to distribute the leaflets. Further infomation is available on the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary website.
Somerset
In several market towns in Somerset, CCTV cameras have been used at various hotspot locations including car parks and rural shows to combat assorted vehicle crime. Measures include use of close circuit television, police surveillance, lighting improvements, systematic patrolling and the exclusion of persistent offenders. Find out more on the Avon and Somerset Constabulary website.
Swindon
The Swindon junior street wardens scheme, which promotes community safety through patrolling and diversionary and educational activities in Swindon, has received a second national award and has been chosen by the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit to pilot a regional resource street wardens centre. You can get more information on the Swindon Borough Council website.
All acquisitive crime campaign materials are now available to download from the Crime Reduction website. This includes the 'Keep it hidden. Keep it Safe. Keep it Locked' leaflet, radio and TV advertisements, outdoor and ambient posters.
