Kent County Constabulary (Secure Accommodation Scheme)
Kent County Constabulary, Canterbury City Council and the Kent Fire Brigade launched the Secure Accommodation Scheme (SAS) to encourage safe and secure rented accommodation for students. The first of its kind, SAS has achieved a 36 per cent reduction in burglary in its first year of operation and the voluntary accreditation scheme is already being replicated by other forces. 85 landlords have joined the scheme, installing security systems to an agreed standard set by the participating authorities.
Business Link Sandwell
Business Link Sandwell (BLS) is a partnership between West Midlands Police and businesses on three business parks in Sandwell experiencing high levels of burglary. 46 per cent of businesses on the estates had been repeatedly victimised.
Working closely with contributory agencies, BLS acted as an independent co-ordinator to address crime as a business risk and encourage best practice at realistic cost. It launched a business security plan advising increased target hardening measures including security barriers, lighting and CCTV to cover the whole of the area. Actual crime has been drastically reduced and the estates now review and monitor crime collectively, rather than on an individual basis.
Guildford’s Response and Action for Safer Premises
Burglary and repeat victimisation of the elderly and vulnerable in Guildford prompted the launch two years ago of Guildford’s Response and Action for Safer Premises (G.R.A.S.P.). The partnership between Banham Security, Surrey Police, Guildford Association of Voluntary Service (GAVS) and the borough council offers to replace or fit security equipment free of charge for the elderly, disabled and vulnerable. Managed by GAVS, the project costs GB pound 15,000 a year and is funded by Banham Security and the council. More than 750 clients have been served by G.R.A.S.P, successfully reducing the fear of crime and achieving a 0 per cent revictimisation rate.
