Burglary victims have been offered state-of-the-art solar security cameras to reduce their risk of crime by have been written to by police and crime chiefs, as part of a new prevention effort believed to be the first of its kind in the country.

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping (PCC) and Chief Constable Craig Guildford have jointly written to people living in parts of Newark who have repeatedly fallen victim to thieves and burglars with the offer of making their homes safer.

As part of the Safer Streets Partnership, the PCC, Newark and Sherwood District Council, Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottinghamshire Police have set aside £102,000 to undertake free security improvements at homes most at risk of crime.

It is part of a package of crime prevention measures that also include new street lighting and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras being funded by a £550,000 grant from the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund.

Residents in the Northgate and Chatham areas of Newark who may qualify for the scheme have received the letters.

The programme’s newly-appointed Burglary Reduction Officer, Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Eleanor Smalley, from Nottinghamshire Police, is also calling at homes and undertaking free risk assessments on eligible properties.

Those deemed most vulnerable will be entitled to free security improvements, which could include new fencing, high-security doors, windows and 4G solar-powered security cameras.

A total of £10,000 — in addition to the £102,000 for overall security improvements — has been earmarked for the highly-innovative Reolink solar-powered rechargeable cameras, which come with fitted sensor detectors to trigger real-time alerts and offer HD quality imaging.

Users have remote access to the device at any time with iOS and Android smartphones or through a Windows or Mac computer.

Paddy Tipping, who is leading the project and has already met burglary victims in Newark, said: “We are delighted to offer this new technology as part of a whole package of free security improvements to vulnerable residents whose lives are being blighted by crime.

“We are serious about improving safety for residents in Newark, which is why we are one of the first police force areas in the country to roll out this high-grade security device at people’s homes.

“This project is about identifying the most vulnerable homes in the Chatham and Northgate areas — those that have been repeatedly targeted by criminals — to try to relieve residents of the misery of becoming a victim. If you have not already received a call or visit, PCSO Eleanor Smalley may be contacting you shortly to offer a free risk assessment.

“I would urge all those eligible for this free service — and the subsequent security upgrades — to take this opportunity with open arms. This is about making Newark an inhospitable place for thieves and burglars and the more we can do to deter crime on a personal level, the safer our community will become.”
Chief Constable Guildford added: “Burglary in particular is a deeply upsetting crime that can have a lasting impact on people whose homes and lives have been violated. That is why I am glad to support the PCC and other partners in working together to stamp out this sort of crime as part of the Safer Streets project in Newark.

“People who have been victims of burglary and those that live near them can apply to get target hardening measures installed under this scheme which could include new locks, CCTV and even new doors in some cases, all of which are designed to deter would-be thieves. I would encourage anyone who has this letter from myself and Mr Tipping to come forward and let us help you to make your home as safe as it can be.

“Supporting our communities with issues of antisocial behaviour, crime prevention and quality of life is important to the policing service we provide.”
Coun David Lloyd, leader of the district council, said: “Taking measures to help prevent crime in the first instance is absolutely crucial.

“We’ve already carried out a number of initiatives and operations in the area including rolling out property marking and we’re pleased we can now enhance this even more as part of the Safer Streets Project. Burglary and theft are crimes that can be very distressing for the victims and leave a sense of vulnerability in what should be a safe place for them.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community and in their home and I am encouraging as many residents as possible who may be eligible to take advantage of what’s being offered here.”

A number of homes in the Chatham and Northgate areas have already received free risk assessments and a contractor will shortly be installing security upgrades.
Further victims are being contacted as well as neighbouring properties, who are also able to take advantage of this opportunity. Improving the security of the neighbours creates a cocooning effect, supporting the victim and decreasing the risk of burglary even further.

PCSO Smalley said: “Householders have been really enthusiastic about this opportunity and already we have highlighted a number of properties which meet the criteria for new cameras and other measures.

“My job now is to spread the word and make sure all those eligible for help are aware of our scheme and take up the offer to safeguard their property by the most effective means possible.

“A well-lit, secure street acts as a deterrent to criminals. We want to exhaust every opportunity to rid Newark’s streets of crime but we need the help of residents to make it work.”

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