Police host Birchwood community event

The Welwyn Hatfield Neighbourhood Policing Team held a community event for residents in Birchwood on Saturday (17 February).

PCs Andrew Dockerill and Darren Turner and PCSO Shannon Payne hosted a crime prevention stall at Birchwood Leisure Centre in Longmead.

The stall provided an opportunity for residents to meet with their local officers face-to-face for advice and a chat. Residents could also get their bicycles security marked for free.

PC Andrew Dockerill said: “I’d like to thank everybody who came along to the event. We gave residents advice around protecting themselves from crime and also handed out useful security devices.

“This included UV pens for marking property to assist in recovery if ever stolen. We also gave out credit card ‘defenders’ to keep cards safe from being scanned and purse bells which help deter handbag ‘dippers’.

“Residents were also given house and vehicle security information packs.

“We were pleased to offer free bike-marking too. This is a really simple and effective way of deterring bike theft. If a thief is caught with a registered bike, the owner can be traced and the thief will be arrested.

“If you didn’t get a chance to come along, we recommend that you register your bike online (opens in a new window).”

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