Better Bankside ebrief, FEBRUARY 2006 |
SE1 'remains commercial crime hotspot' 'On call' Safe Neighbourhood police officer introduced. A staggering 58% of businesses nationally experience crime each year at a cost of £33 million. These statistics emerged in a Business Crime seminar organised by Safer Southwark Partnership and held at the Hop Exchange on 16th February. The event also saw the announcement of the introduction of a Safe Neighbourhood team to each local authority ward. In Cathedral ward (which encompasses Bankside) the contact person is Sgt Steve Dutton on 07766 443043. Crime generally in Southwark has fallen by 21% in three years, but SE1 remains a commercial crime hotspot. Of the 871 commercial burglaries in the borough, 355 were in the areas around London Bridge, with a hotspot around Guy's Hospital. The peak times for offences are 18.00 to 08.00 hours and Monday is the peak day. In 52% of cases entry was achieved through breaking the front door and IT equipment was the favourite target. Businesses are encouraged to mark up IT kit in ways which make it more identifiable and less saleable for the criminal.
There were 4853 incidents of theft and shoplifting between July and Dec 2005 with SE1 again being the hot spot accounting for 22%. Nuisance crimes are also being targeted. The council is planning to introduce a blanket street drinking ban across the Borough which will allow it to act to prohibit street drinking when and where it poses a problem for others.
Safer
Southwark Partnership |
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