Staffordshire Police continues to address community’s concerns around burglary

Staffordshire Police is reinforcing its commitment to tackle burglaries across the county.

As part of our dedicated community engagement operation, additional patrols will be delivered by local police officers, police community support officers, tactical support teams and special constables, helping to ensure that police are visibly present in key locations at times of the day and night when analysis suggests crimes are most likely to occur.
 
These patrols help us to provide a visible presence in our communities, making people feel safer and providing more opportunities for the public to engage with us.
 
In addition, prevention and problem-solving work – which sees police working in close partnership with early intervention teams, local authorities and other partners to understand and tackle crime such as burglary and business crime continues.  
 
Local policing teams in targeted areas will carry out pro-active days and weeks of action, acting on intelligence to target repeat burglars and links to organised crime by identifying links between cases and finding evidence that allows offenders to be charged.  
 
Chief Inspector Giles Parsons, force lead for burglary and business crime, said: “Whilst Staffordshire is still one of the safest places to live and work in the country, we want the public to be confident that we are tackling offences such as burglary.
 
“We understand the devastating impact someone breaking into your home or business can have, and we will continue to prioritise preventing burglaries, targeting repeat offenders and organised crime groups, and solving as many burglaries as we can.
 
“In Staffordshire, we attend and investigate all burglary residential incidents unless there is an exceptional reason why the incident does not require us to do so. 
 
“It’s also important for us to provide support to those victims who may be particularly vulnerable, such as the isolated elderly, and we continue to work alongside partners such as the Staffordshire Victim Gateway and Restorative Justice Service.
 
“I would also urge the public to continue to maintain and maximise their home and business security where possible in order to reduce the likelihood of them being a victim of this type of crime and report any suspicious incidents to the police.”
 
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams said: “I understand the distress felt by anyone experiencing a break in, which is why a locally based Police service, able to understand and respond to neighbourhood concerns through this kind of proactive community policing, is a priority in my Police & Crime Plan. 
 
“As Commissioner, crime prevention is a key part of my role. My office has to date secured almost £3 million from the government’s Safer Streets fund for a range of practical initiatives in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford and Burton, including additional street lighting, alley gating, security locks and CCTV cameras, as part of a wider partnership approach.
 
“Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have seen a reduction in neighbourhood crimes, but there is more to be done. 
 
“I will be discussing with Chief Constable Chris Noble what Staffordshire Police is doing to tackle burglary and other crimes at next Tuesday’s Public Performance Meeting. People can follow the meeting for themselves via the live stream on my office’s website, and it will also be available online afterwards.”
 
For crime prevention advice visit: www.staffordshire.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/
To contact police, visit: www.staffordshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/soh/seen-or-heard/