Ever wondered why there is a Crime Operation in Progress Sign down your road? Well…
Since January 2009, the Buckinghamshire County Council Serious Acquisitive Reduction Team and the South Bucks Community Safety Partnership has responded to analysis and intelligence about Serious Acquisitive Crime (Burglary, Vehicle Crime and Robbery) hotspots by displaying “Crime Operation in Progress” signs in these identified problem locations. The signs are displayed for a short period of time (usually 1-2 weeks).
When the signs are deployed, officers from the Community Safety Partnership often letter drop properties in the affected area with useful crime prevention information, engage with residents and visibly patrol the area. For example, residents can be offered Forensic DNA property marking kits such as Smartwater or timer switches. The signs deter potential offenders as they will fear there is an increased risk of being caught and also to raise awareness amongst potential victims. Also, covert operations may well happen in the areas where the signs are deployed with the aim of catching determined offenders.
Thames Valley Police also carry out regular crime operations in addition to this and work closely with partners in relation to reduction and enforcement.
A recent evaluation by the Bucks Information Hub (i-on Bucks) into the effectiveness of the Crime Operation signs over the last twelve months shows that they have a significant impact on incidents of crime and repeat victimisation in the areas in which they are situated.
The purpose of the report was to ascertain whether the short-term deployment of “Crime Operation in Progress” signs (in response to problem areas flagged up by the weekly BCU Intelligence meeting) reduces Serious Acquisitive Crime (Burglary, Vehicle Crime and Robbery).
The short term deployment of “Crime Operation in Progress” signs appears to be having a positive effect on the levels of Serious Acquisitive Crime in the majority of locations where they are deployed.
There have been some anomalies, however in the main a reduction in offences is experienced in locations where the signs are placed. The deployments appear to work well both where specific locations are targeted (e.g. Packhorse Road Car Park and Howards Wood Drive, Gerrards Cross) and in larger areas where signs are strategically placed on the main roads in and out of the village or town (e.g. Iver Heath Roundabout).
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