Crime
Busters Collect Top Honours
Crime Busters who worked to crack ‘walk-in’
burglaries across Trent Valley have picked up a top Home Office honour.
Police
and crime reduction partners in Lichfield, Burton and Tamworth have come
out West Midland regional winners in the Home Office’s ‘Tilley
Awards’ – held to recognise excellence in fighting crime.
The award winning entry involved police, fire, housing providers and local
councils working together to cut the number of house burglaries in which
thieves simply walked in through unlocked doors or windows.
The four-month campaign run last year, entitled 'Lock it-Protect it',
saw a reduction of one-third in the number of burglaries in hot spot areas.
The drive also helped bring about a 13-per cent cut in the overall number
of break-ins across Trent Valley which covers Burton, Tamworth, Lichfield,
Burntwood and Uttoxeter.
The winning team were handed their award by Home Office Minister Liam
Byrne, during a special ceremony in Birmingham.
The team included: Ian Bentley, senior analyst Trent Valley police; Sgt
Caroline Bailey and Sgt Tyrone Kerr, Trent Valley police; Dave Fearn,
Tamworth Community Safety Partnership; Jenni Coleman and Bob Haynes, Lichfield
Safety Partnership; Mike Hovers, East Staffordshire Safety Partnership
and Susie Bentley, Staffordshire County Council.
Ian Bentley, senior analyst for Burton based Trent Valley police said:
"The strength of the campaign came from the skills of each partner
being harnessed to focus on this one issue in areas identified as being
at risk from burglars.
'Police visited homes offering crime prevention advice while fire officers,
housing association staff and council employees all made giving help and
advice part of their daily business in the community.'
The campaign included putting up posters and advertising across the area,
delivering advice leaflets to hundreds of residents and talking to householders.
Residents were also encouraged to contact their local council or police
station for free help and advice.
Tilley Award winners Ian Bentley, Dave Fearn and Susie Bentley, collect
the honour from Home Officer minister, Liam Byrne (second right)
