BROMLEY BOROUGH POLICE NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH INTELLIGENCE TASKINGS
Pickpockets
There has been an increase in the incidents of pickpocketing in the Borough_s High Streets. Please take note of the following advice.
We do not want to scare you from coming into town or going to public shopping centres, but you need to know there are people who will try to take your money. They can be found in all urban areas, not just Bromley. By taking these few simple precautions your shopping trips to wherever you choose to go will be a safe and enjoyable experience.
Pickpocket Prevention Tips for Women
- Do not carry your purse in your handbag. Conceal it in a buttoned or zippered pocket where it doesn_t show a bulge.
- Use a purse that is difficult to open. A purse with a zipper or press studs is best.
- If you are carrying a shoulder bag, place the strap(s) diagonally across your body, as opposed to carrying it on one shoulder. This keeps the bag in front of you, instead of at your side or behind you, which sometimes happens with purses with long straps. If you are carrying a hand bag, then make sure to hold it close to the front of your body, instead of holding it on your wrist or loosely in your hand.
- Never leave your purse unattended on a store counter or in shopping trolleys.
Pickpocket Prevention Tips for Men
1. The pickpocket target areas are back trouser pockets and suit coat and sports jacket pockets, located both inside and out. In general, a pickpocket avoids front trouser pockets and especially buttoned or zippered pockets.
2. If you have to carry your wallet in an unbuttoned jacket, coat or pants pocket, be sure it holds only what you can afford to lose. Keep large sums of money, credit cards, IDs, etc., in your front pocket or any buttoned or zippered pocket. Some people even place a rubber band around their wallet because the rubber band creates friction and rubs against the fabric of your pocket if someone is attempting to remove it without your knowledge.
Quick security tip: In general, the best place for keys is on a chain attached to your clothing.
3. Never pat your pocket to see if your wallet is there. This just lets the pickpocket know the exact location of your valuables.
4. Larger-size "pocket secretaries" are particularly inviting to pickpockets, and relatively easy to steal.
Safer Neighbourhood Launch
In 2004 625 safer neighbourhood teams were introduced across the MPS. Those wards where teams have been working have experienced a drop in crime and surveys conducted have shown that public confidence and reassurance is increased. Where safer Bromley teams have been in operation they have made a significant impact on the reduction of disorder.
|
Name of Team |
Reduction of disorder 05/06 compared with 03/04 |
|
Hayes and Coney Hall |
21.1% reduction |
|
Penge and Cator |
10.3% reduction |
|
Cray |
14.5% reduction |
|
|
13.3% reduction |
|
Biggin Hill and |
20.4% reduction |
|
Mottingham & Chislehurst |
6.8% reduction |
|
Orpington |
20.3% reduction |
|
Copers Cope |
2.9& reduction |
All forces in the
Safer Neighbourhoods is a new ward based policing style that will be able to tackle quality-of-life crimes and anti-social behaviour issues that are affecting their ward and neighbourhood.
How will Safer Neighbourhood teams benefit Bromley Borough? Dedicated teams of Police Officers, Police Community Support Officers and Special Constables based on each ward in Bromley will provide additional policing resources to the Borough of Bromley and therefore provide additional reassurance to those who live, work or socialise in Bromley. These community officers will not be taken away from their key roles to perform other police duties they will be dedicated to the area they are posted.
Safer neighbourhood teams will each consist of a minimum of one Police Sergeant, one Police Constable and two Police Community Support Officers. Bromley have achieved on the majority of wards to provide one Sergeant, two constables and two Police Community Support Officers. Those wards with a population of over 14000 will have an increase of up to six PCSOs over the next year, making a real difference to policing delivery and visibility across the Borough. Subject to Mayoral funding.
Bromley has seen an increase of people engaging in the volunteer programme. People with a wide skills base often from professional backgrounds are coming forward and wanting to engage with Bromley police. Bromley is seeing a number of volunteers now working alongside officers using their own life and professional skills to assist in a number of key areas for example staffing the new police bases.
When will all the wards in Bromley have a Safer Neighbourhood Team? On the 3rd April every electoral ward on the Bromley will have its own dedicated policing team _ 22 wards in total. Initially the teams will be based at Bromley, Orpington and Beckenham Police Stations, however dedicated patrol bases are being identified and being prepared for use across the Borough. Dedicated patrol bases are now in operation at Biggin Hill and St Mary Cray, with the Coney Hall base and team being launched on
What will these teams be doing?
Safer Neighbourhood teams will consist of additional Police officers and these teams will be working towards arresting offencers and reducing priority crimes, bringing offenders to justice and additionally will be tackling quality-of-life crimes and anti-social behaviour that affect the day-to-day lives of a community. These include, graffiti, abandoned cars and vandalism. The teams will also be working together with local authorities; community and consultative groups to ensure issues that affect the public's feeling of safety and security are tackled.
One of the key principles is community engagement. Each ward will have a ward panel made up of a representative cross section of people who live and work on that particular ward. The panel and local policing team will work together to identify issues affecting the quality of life of residents. If a problem is identified by the panel, the Safer Neighbourhood Team are signed up to dealing with the problem and will report back to the panel with the results. Enforcement will be a part of resolving problems, but will be supported by education, prevention and designing solution in partnership with other agencies.
One initiative will be Bromley Safer Neighbourhood teams being briefed actually out on the ward in public view for example in shopping centres, or recreation areas to be more visible and open to the community. Briefings will encourage those members of the community that don_t engage with the police to come along and have their say.
How does this differ from current policing methods? These new teams of Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers will be dedicated solely to the needs of each specific neighbourhood, with the policing priorities for that area decided in partnership with the public and local authorities and organisations. In the parts of
Why are Safer Neighbourhood teams being introduced? Public surveys show us that, despite crime falling over the long term, the public still do not feel safer. There is a need to close this reassurance gap and provide reassurance to communities. The introduction of Safer Neighbourhood teams will play a significant part. The extra officers that Safer neighbourhoods provides will give Bromley Police the capability to tackle the crimes and issues that people who work, live and socialise in Bromley tell us make them feel unsafe.
How will the Met know if this is working? Improving neighbourhood safety is one of the MPS stated priorities in and this will be measured in a number of ways, including monitoring the levels of public satisfaction with the way neighbourhoods are policed through surveys. We will be measuring crime and demand reduction, as well as enforcement measurement. We will also be seeking feedback from our partners in the Community and seeking the views of the public through surveys and through consultation with our community and consultative groups.
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