A community-based operation, ‘Love where you live’, ran in Middleton recently, covering the Westwood estate, reports the Rothwell Neighbourhood Policing Team.
The policing aim is to reduce burglary figures by making houses less attractive to burglars. During the day the NPT worked alongside 15 young police ‘explorers’ visiting over 590 addresses within the area. Local residents received information leaflets about Police contacts and internet links.
Potentially vulnerable residents in the community received home security checks and, in addition, security products were distributed to residents. These included lighting timer switches to activate house lights when residents are away, Smartwater kits to mark up property within the house, key safes and door chimes, to alert residents of someone entering the home.
Residents took up the opportunity to speak with Police explorers and passed information to help police resolve local policing matters. The general feedback from the majority of residents was very positive and residents commented on how nice it was to see young people working alongside the police officers.
596 addresses received leaflets covering addresses on the Bodmins, Westwoods, Helstons, and Padstows.
The explorers, who are volunteers aged between 16 and 18, put a lot of effort into the day, many working for six hours. They are a motivated and keen group and presented themselves in a very good light.
