Free security devices at police crime prevention stall

Shoppers in Welwyn Garden City were given free security devices when they stopped at a police crime prevention stall yesterday (Tuesday 24 January).

PCSOs Jack Andrews and Bill McCaskie, from the Welwyn Hatfield Safer Neighbourhood Team, hosted a crime prevention stall in Morrisons between 10am and 12pm.

The two officers offered crime prevention advice to shoppers and they also gave out free security devices.

The timing of yesterday’s event falls within the national Neighbourhood Policing Week (Monday 23 – Sunday 27 January) which celebrates local policing. PCSOs like Jack and Bill are in many ways the face of policing, getting involved with community engagement work. This often includes crime prevention stalls where they provide visible reassurance.

In Hertfordshire, the PCs and PCSOs who cover local policing sit on Safer Neighbourhood Teams. They regularly consult the public to identify the issues that are of most concern and work to resolve them. They often work with councils, housing providers and other local partners to look at the underlying causes to develop long-term solutions to problems.

In Welwyn Hatfield, the Safer Neighbourhood Team is split into three areas; North, West and South. Each area is led by a Sergeant and made up of PCs and PCSOs whilst an Inspector is responsible for the oversight of the whole team.

PCSO Andrews said: “We had a great time speaking to locals and we were pleased to be able to give out free security devices which will hopefully provide peace of mind.

“We gave out plenty of purse chains and bells and these are useful in tackling theft. When a pickpocket tries to steal from someone, a noisy purse chain or bell will alert the victim and hopefully scare off the thief.

“Shoppers were also given RFID blocker cards which help protect you from credit card fraud or identity theft. Using an RFID scanner, a criminal can quickly gather a victim’s credit card or passport details simply by walking past them. When the victim has an RFID blocker card slid against the credit card or passport they should be safe from the hacker.

“We would like say thank you to everybody who came along and spoke with us yesterday.”

To receive police messages about a range of topics including burglaries, scams and missing people in your local area, sign up to OWL (opens in a new window) or download the ‘OWL crime alerts’ app from your app store.

You can use our community voice platform ‘echo’ to let us know what you think we should be prioritising in your area. Your feedback will help towards shaping our local policing priorities, initiatives and campaigns. Visit the following and tell us your thoughts.

Welwyn Hatfield North echo (opens in a new window) – (Welwyn West, Welwyn East, Haldens, Sherrards, Handside, Peartree and Panshanger)

Welwyn Hatfield South echo (opens in a new window) – (Hollybush, Cuffley, Howlands, Northaw, Hatfield East, Hatfield South, Welham Green, Brookmans Park and Little Heath)

Welwyn Hatfield West echo (opens in a new window) – (Hatfield Villages, Hatfield Central, Hatfield South West and the University of Hertfordshire).