Minute of a talk to Old Colwyn East Residents’ AGM 14th June 2006 by
Ifan Richard Hughes, Central Division Crime Reduction Officer
Ifan was welcomed to the meeting by the Chair and began by introducing himself as a retired police officer having joined the police in 1972, now working in a support staff role as Divisional crime reduction advisor.
He said that the most important issue, having listened to the Annual General Meeting, is that we work in partnership to fight the battle against crime. Crime has always been a problem and people have always tended to think that crime is always down to the police to deal with. It was highlighted in 1998 in the Crime and Disorder Act that the police would work closer with the local authority. The idea was to look at action plans to look at ways to support the community, especially the vulnerable.
He outlined that he works in the Community Safety Department based in Llandudno and responsible for Crime Reduction for the whole of Conwy County. He is also an Architectural Liaison Officer for Conwy and Denbighshire and “Secure by Design” is a feature of his work.
The police has the responsibility to work with everyone, Local Authority, Fire Service and others to reassure the community. He said that it is very important not to frighten the elderly and in presentations or on an individual basis, he emphasised that a lot of crime is committed by opportunist burglars, thieves, criminals. He went on to say that if we took that extra bit of time to secure our property, to think more of crime reduction and prevention, we would be less likely to become a victim of crime.
He stated the obvious that if a criminal wants to break into a person’s home particularly, there is nothing on the market which will stop that happening. His work is partly to advise on security systems such as alarms, access controls, CCTV and gates. There is a theme always however that we can help ourselves tremendously.
Ifan stated that he had been the victim of a burglary and had returned to find the burglar on his premises. The man was arrested and sentenced because he was a known burglar.
Returning to the issue of opportunism, his colleague Steve Hughes the partnership analyst had, a couple of years ago, done an analysis with regard to Rhos on Sea. At that time, crime during the day was a big problem, burglaries occurred. They had examined the issues, time, days and the method of operating used by the criminals. It was found that nearly 80% of the offences were committed through insecure windows and doors.
The problem was addressed by working with Neighbourhood Watch, the Conwy County Crime Prevention Panel, CBMs and other bodies. Leafleting was carried out, presentations were given and the Community Safety Caravan was put out on the promenade, the problem died out. People secured their homes. Ifan posed the thought that it is sad that we have to think of doing such things; and said that when he is at home, he locks the door when he is in the house. It is fair to say that we can all identify with that, it is the state of society and realism.
Ifan said that the media can help and can also be a hindrance, information is always being passed on to the Media Department at Headquarters and the message is constantly being pushed out for people to be careful with their property.
With the hot weather, people leave their windows and doors open. All a burglar needs is a 9” x 9” space and entry is possible. He had been to a burglary in Conwy that day he said where the person had got in through a small window. Thankfully, the person had been arrested by the police.
What the police cannot do is insist that the media put out messages every day to be careful of bogus callers. The police also have to be careful not to put the fear of crime into the elderly and vulnerable. The fear of crime is a thin line that he always has to be conscious of.
If the media does not put out the message that the police ask, what we can do is to make people aware of the dangers, male or female, age not an issue, NEVER EVER TRUST ANYONE. He asked is that a sad statement to make?
Be careful who is at the door. If in doubt, keep them out. However official they look do not let them in. If you do let them in do not allow them the freedom of your home. Sneak thefts often occur.
Some people keep a large amount of money in the house, the thief will look and will find it if you let it happen.
Ifan outlined that help is available through the Welsh Assembly and the Crime and Disorder Act. He has obtained a budget to purchase locks, window locks, personal attack alarms, security lights and other items and can supply them free of charge to vulnerable people. If they are pensioners, Conwy Care and Repair from Mochdre, will fit the locks or other items free of charge.
CBMs conduct surveys of property. His department used to do surveys but is more involved in getting other agencies together to reduce crime with ASBOs and so on. If a person is a repeat victim of crime the department will visit. They also get involved with the design of housing developments and shopping areas and in Llandudno the new Theatre for instance.
He gave an example of a housing complex that had declined police “Secure by Design” assistance at the outset. Because of very bad problems he had been asked to visit recently and simple issues had been ignored and were now problems. The police system is known as the ‘onion peel’ principle. The outside is secured to prevent the person coming in, fencing, windows etc. He said that he works a lot on ‘Secure by Design’ with North Wales Housing Association, who are very good with the concept. Five lever mortice deadlocks are used to British standard 362. Door locks, door chains security lights, door bars and door viewers etc, anything to prevent occupants from becoming a victim of crime. Simple things do work well he added.
Private developers are reluctant to come on board he said because they think it will cost too much. He said that it is not his job to instruct the developers what to do but he tries to help and support.
With Sian Taylor his colleague partly funding by the police and partly by the council he looks at projects, looking through the Joint Action Group (JAG) meetings, trying to spend on parks and other areas, fencing play areas, shelters that cannot be vandalised.
With JAG they have looked at arsons in school premises in close liaison with the fire service and local authority to ensure that all issues are dealt with efficiently.
Ifan offered help if the Association knows of anyone who may benefit, young or old and vulnerable. If they cannot afford necessary window locks and other equipment, if we liaise through the Community Safety Officers or CBMs, the Community Safety Department will help if possible.
Any projects involving vulnerable members of society, including children, that are worthy of worthy of support will be considered if we consult the Community Safety Department, he said.
Ifan says that his department works with Neighbourhood Watch conducting searches of crime databases and supplying a non specific breakdown of type and locality of crime so that the coordinators can be effective on a local basis.
The secretary interjected and told Ifan that the association has asked for information about specific crimes for our area for a couple of years and although we get information about the numbers of crimes, we do not get information about the locality and specific type of crime.
Ifan replied that we should be able to get that type of information through the N.Watch Street Coordinator for our area.
The secretary continued to say that the association is acting in a similar way to Neighbourhood Watch, constantly in touch with the CBMs. N.Watch has ceased to function in Old Colwyn.
Ifan replied that he searches the system for car crime and burglary dwellings and passes it on to the street coordinators to be passed on to the neighbours.
The secretary continued that he felt that the lack of access to that sort of information by our association was closely associated with the police issue of minimising the FEAR OF CRIME. He said that the police supply information concerning numbers of the “objective” crimes for the whole area of Colwyn but all the other crimes, such as Burglary other than a dwelling, are lumped into a group called “Other crimes”. We therefore do not get a true picture of our area as residents.
Ifan interjected to say that it would be worth contacting Steve Hughes the Partnership Analyst. He would be more than glad to come and address a future meeting. He is based in St Asaph. He will give a presentation about what has happened over a given period.
The secretary continued that our purposes would be served by our members finding out that there are crimes happening in Old Colwyn. We get information about how many Auto Crimes and Burglary Dwellings are in a police defined area known by a Divisional number but specific street areas are undefined. It is increasingly difficult for our local officers to find out the information we have been told previously, so we do not press for the information. We are given what is available which is not really helpful. We are happy with less but we could do with more. People need to know if they are at risk. Burglaries other than dwelling are classed as “other crimes” in the information given to us. We don’t get to hear about shed break-ins for instance.
Ifan said that he could tell us if there was a shed break-in.
The secretary spoke about “Ringmaster” scheme where information on current local crimes was supposed to be passed around. That had failed to be specific about area.
Ifan replied that Ringmaster does not work, in his opinion.
A resident of Llysfaen present spoke of a local scheme operated in his area in response to local behaviour problems, where residents phoned a central person who acted as a coordinator and phoned the police.
Ifan replied that the scheme had obviously worked well and it reflected the partnership approach of passing on information, similar to “Shopwatch”. Sadly he continued, there are areas where neighbours do not talk to each other. People have busy lives.
Ifan went on to express a view that he has a lot of time for young people and firmly believes that the vast majority are good people. There is a problem across the County with antisocial behaviour,graffiti, alcohol abuse and so on. Many youngsters do very well for themselves; the problem group is a minority.
Through the Welsh Assembly, North Wales has dedicated Schools Liaison Officers who go into schools, giving support to teachers and working with youngsters so that they are not alienated and work as a team concept.
Alley Gating is an interesting concept of preventing access. Supported by the Welsh Assembly, it provides gating of vulnerable areas to bar access to potential criminals and antisocial groups.
CCTV is not the full answer, basic crime prevention is the key, think always about the opportunist thief.
Victim Support is very important in supporting people who have been unfortunate enough to become victims. They do a great job of liaison with the police.
The Crime Reduction Department is present to support groups such as ours and his colleagues in the police. Ifan said that he had brought some “Be Safe Be Secure” booklets produced by the Home Office and also some UV marker pens with which he asked people to use to mark their property with postcode and house number.
“Coded for keeps” and “Steer clear of car crime” were other booklets available.
Theft from motor vehicles is a real problem we all know that people leave valuable articles on the back seat in the car and under seats. Put it out of sight. Don’t leave windows open for ventilation in unattended cars in the hot weather.
Ifan thanked the association for inviting him to speak and listening.
The Chair thanked Ifan for attending and speaking and congratulated him on his MBE. When asked how many races he had competed in, Ifan replied 46 marathons.
There was a round of applause.
The Chair commented that it was well known during Ifan’s time as a police officer that people should not steal in Llandudno while he was around because they would never get away from him.
