Crime Prevention Initiative on The Garths in Hull

A day of action took place in Ringstead Garth, Abingdon Garth, Binbrook Garth, Cosford Garth on Monday 3 July as part of an ambitious long-term crime prevention initiative aiming to make 2,500 homes safer in the Garths of Bransholme, Hull.

The local Community Policing Team, Community Safety Volunteers and representatives from Hull City Council, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, Riverside Housing, Urban Community group and the Neighbourhood Network spent the day visiting houses on the streets conducting a home security survey in order to help prevent properties being targeted, fitting free outbuilding alarms and assisting occupants in setting up and register property on www.immobilise.com.

During the day of action 102 homes were visited resulting in:
• 58 residents had shed alarms fitted
• 7 residents had garage alarms fitted
• 35 cycles were property marked and placed on www.immobilise.com and 64 other items were added to the site (mobile phone, laptop, television and tablets)
• 22 High risk fire referrals were made to Humberside Fire and Rescue
• 12 Vulnerable adult referrals were completed.

PC Steve Hepworth said: “This event was a great success with over 100 residents supported with crime prevention and items registered onto www.immobilise.com. The support was well received by everyone spoken too with many people blown away by the number of agencies involved. By undertaking the activity we have made shed and garages less desirable to thieves by fitting alarms and we have provided homeowners practical tools in protecting their property from opportunist thieves.“

To date there have been four events with 451 residents visited, 399 alarms fitted, 236 cycles uploaded to immobilise and 53 high risk fire referrals made to Humberside Fire and Rescue Service. Following the third event we reported having seen a 38 per cent reduction in out building burglaries and we hope that the on-going work will help continue this downward trend.

The events have been funded by Hull City Council North Carr Area to hold a series of crime prevention events in the streets that make up the Garths area of Bransholme after they were identified as a long term burglary hotspots. This will be supplemented with operational activity targeting those committing burglary offences in the area.

The next crime prevention event planned will take place on Haydock Garth, Zeals Garth, Yatesbury Garth and Swinderby Garth in October.

PC Hepworth added: “It is clear that the activity has heightened the communities’ awareness in preventing crime, while increasing reporting of those offending in their neighbourhood. I am sure as we roll-out the action further it will continue to have an impact on the community, making them safer and continuing to reduce crime. Finally, I would encouraged the public to support police by reporting those involved in criminality or people who are acting suspiciously in their area on 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”