Metropolitan police trials in five boroughs – including Lambeth and Southwark – show traceable liquids delivered a reduction of at least 49 per cent in burglaries in just the target areas over a six month period.
A recent pilot of this innovative technology by the Metropolitan police saw 5000 homes in five boroughs being provided with the liquid free of charge.
The trial targeted burglary hotspots and achieved an average 49 per cent reduction in burglaries over six months.
Despite the trial being concluded, monitoring of the areas has continued and up to the end of February, the Met has seen a total reduction of 820 crimes – two areas have seen reductions of over 70 per cent.
More than half of the residents also felt safer having applied the liquid to items in their homes. The reduction delivered more than £500,000 in estimated cost savings and of more than 15000 saved police hours.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson believes new technology such as traceable liquid will play a significant role in the Met meeting his challenge to cut burglary by 20 pc by 2016 which, if achieved, would reduce this crime to an historic low.
He wants to introduce traceable liquids to at least 440,000 London homes and is calling for local authorities to jointly invest with the Met and assist this introduction.
The Metropolitan police is currently conducting a London-wide procurement to identify a single supplier of traceable liquids for the capital which will be concluded later this year.
Boris Johnson said: “Where deployed well, this clever liquid has been proven to slash rates of property crime, helping the police not only to apprehend burglars and return stolen property, but act as a major deterrent to would-be criminals.
“I want to see this technology introduced in all areas most at risk of burglary, and I am urging local authorities to join with us to invest in a roll-out of traceable liquids across all boroughs.’
Stephen Greenhalgh, deputy mayor for policing and crime, said: ‘Successful traceable liquid pilots across London show impressive savings from crimes prevented, which frees up cops to tackle other pressing issues.
“We now know that this technology does what it says on the tin, giving our police another smart way to drive down crime and protect the public.”
5000 homes took part in the Met’s traceable liquids trial – Brent, Islington, Hammersmith & Fulham, Lambeth and Southwark. (Source: Mayor of London’s office press release)
BROMLEY PROSECUTE NOISY NEIGHBOUR – FOR SECOND TIME
A BROMLEY woman has been fined £1,800, plus £180 victim surcharge and ordered to pay £1,204.67 in costs to Bromley council for playing music at unacceptably loud levels – for the SECOND time.
Bromley’s public protection division prosecuted the noisy neighbour following repeated complaints of very loud music disturbing the neighbours.
The woman failed to attend Bromley magistrates court for the second time on April 9th 2014 and did not respond to the council’s allegations that a statutory noise nuisance was witnessed coming from her property on the 25 January 25th 2014 by officers from the council’s noise service.
The court heard that despite being served with an abatement notice in December 2012, the woman had continued to play music at an unacceptable level since that time. This was witnessed by noise service officers and she was convicted in her absence.
The court noted she had previously been convicted of causing a noise nuisance in August 2013, when she was fined £900 for three breaches of the noise abatement notice and ordered to pay £1,464 costs to the council.
The council had also previously carried out a seizure of noise equipment from her under a court warrant.
Head of environmental protection, Jim McGowan said: “People who blatantly persist in causing a noise nuisance will be prosecuted.
“These individuals have no regard for their neighbours and seem determined to ignore our warnings. “This thoughtless behaviour will not be tolerated in Bromley.”
The council currently deals with around 3200 reports of excessive noise nuisance every year and residents affected by a noise nuisance can seek advice and report problems via the council’s website www.bromley.gov.ukor by calling 0300 303 8657. (Source: Bromley council press release)
Council encourages screening kit returns for Bowel Cancer month
As part of April’s Bowel Cancer Awareness month campaign Southwark council are encouraging older residents to make use of their free screening kits.
The NHS introduced its bowel cancer screening programme in 2006. The simple-to-use kits are automatically sent out by post to anyone aged between 60 and 70 and could save your life – yet in Southwark, the large majority of people who are receiving kits don’t send them back.
Over the last year the council’s public health team have been working with GPs to make follow up calls to people who received kits to find out why they weren’t being returned and how to make it easier.
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in England and the second most common cause of cancer death.
“We strongly encourage people to use and return their free screening kits and even if they don’t, to contact their GP if they notice any changes for more than three weeks when they go to the loo. It may be nothing but if it is serious then you will be able to get the treatment and support you need.”
For more information on bowel cancer and the screening kits please visithttp://www.nhs.uk/ (Source: Southwark council press release)
