Statistics

Three significant reports on crime statistics have been published this month. The first looks at crime across 18 countries within Europe (the 15 'old' EU member states plus Poland, Hungary and Estonia). England & Wales is considered by the report to be a high-crime country with high levels of 'common crimes' (burglary, theft, robberies, assaults), however levels of fraud and corruption are significantly less than the European average. The second was the most recent quarterly crime figures from the Home Office. And the third of this month's statistical report looks at seasonality in crime and how this can be used to inform the planning of your crime reduction activity.

• European crime and safety survey
• Crime in England & Wales quarterly update
• Seasonality in recorded crime: Preliminary findings

Priority & Prolific Offenders (PPO) Scheme

The PPO scheme has taken the offender as the focus of crime reduction measures rather than 'traditional' situational crime reduction. The first results of a national evaluation of the scheme has been published and shows some remarkable results - conviction rates for 7,800 PPOs fell by 62% after 17 months on the programme. The evaluation has also produced a 'lessons learned' document containing a number of practical measures that will be helpful to those working in the front-line.

• Evaluation of the PPO programme

Cash machine privacy spaces

Research conducted in Manchester has suggested that 1 in every 4 street crimes is geographically connected to a cash point machine or ATM. One solution that Greater Manchester Police have found alleviates this problem is the use of privacy space markings around ATMs. The markings create an area in which the cash point user is aware of the potential criminal threat posed to them when using the cash point. The Home Office and the Local Government Association have published joint guidance on the introduction of these areas.

• Cash machines - 'Privacy space' markings

Expert chat Sessions: Criminal damage and burglary

On 25 January we ran the first in a series of expert chat sessions on the website. The topic was criminal damage and young people. A significant number of you took part, speaking to a mixture of graffiti artists, police who have run successful anti-criminal damage projects and policy makers. You can download a transcript of the session Word 135Kb can be found on the Criminal Damage Mini-site. We have two further sessions running next month:

• 1 March, 10.30 - 15.30: The role of the wider policing family in tackling criminal damage
• 12 March, 11.30 - 14.30: The challenge facing practitioners working in burglary

Visit out chat area at the times advertised to participate in either of these sessions.

Other publication

• The use of Geographical Information Systems by crime analysts in England

In the news

• Three-point plan to tackle gun crime
• Priority offending programme cuts crime
• New measures to increase public protection
• Privacy spaces will tackle robbery
• Home Secretary John Reid today proposed strengthening the Sex Offenders Register to better protect children using the internet

Visit our News section for details of these and other recent stories. You can also now find the latest crime press releases on our homepage.

Discussion Forum

Topics discussed this month on the CRW Discussion Forum include

• Talking lamp-posts
• Head and body CCTV
• Visual environmental audits
• Tamperproof numberplate screws - useless?
• Building site security

The Discussion Forum is available to all crime and disorder practitioners. Register for the Forum.

Stuart Charman
Crime Reduction Website Manager
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk//

Last update: Friday, February 23, 2007

http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/monthlybulletin07-02.htm