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Nottingham at risk

by Mark Rowe

Over the years, Nottingham has built up somewhat of a reputation, having regularly been covered in the press over issues with gun crime, and crime in general. But how much of it is actually factual, and how much is just sensationalist nonsense? After research into government records of reported crime on the Police.gov website, the following statistics tell the story of Nottingham’s city centre real crime issues, writes Andrew Rapley.

From January 2014 to July 2014 in a mile radius of Nottingham’s city centre, there were:

•5,755 reported incidents of crime

•211 reported cases of arson or criminal damage

•147 reported cases of burglary

Bearing in mind these statistics are in a radius of only one mile around the city centre, the figures may be a shock to residents of the area. So, why is it that the crime rate is so high around Nottingham? Usually high crime rates are related to several different factors, ranging from social to economic. These factors should always be taken into consideration when looking at reducing the crime rate of an area.

Taking the above statistics into consideration, there are certain steps that residents of Nottingham and any other area can implement, that will help to abate and start a reduction in crime rates. Taking the following points into consideration could be the first step your neighbourhood takes for a safer, more secure community:

Neighbourhood Watch

An effective Neighbourhood Watch can be a vital crime deterrent in a residential or urban environment. Creating an atmosphere of cooperation in your neighbourhood is a necessary step to take, so you know your neighbours will look out for your house / property when you are out of town or out for the evening, and that you will reciprocate. This is key, as any suspicious or criminal activity will be reported either as its happening, or before it happens. Catching criminals in the earliest stage of committing a crime is vital.

If you are going away, it is worth notifying a responsible member of your neighbourhood that your property will be empty for an extended period of time. It is important to note however, to only notify those you trust and know fairly well. There have been cases in the past where people have notified neighbours that they don’t know well that the house will be empty, only to find it burgled on their return. Trusting the right people with information is key, and using your own discretion and character judgement is important.

Opportunist crime versus planned crime

There are two types of crime when it comes to burglary in particular. These two types are opportunistic or planned crime. Opportunistic crime thrives upon the general public being careless with their home security, or too trusting of their neighbourhood. Simple things like making sure that all windows and doors are closed and locked, or that you do not leave your curtains open when going away, can be the difference between being burgled and not. If you are leaving the house, or going away for a period of time, take a moment to make sure that you house is as secure as it can possibly be.

Preventing planned crime is much more difficult. The steps you can take to prevent planned crime is to make sure that your neighbourhood will report any suspicious cars or behaviour outside of your residence. If you notice anything strange about your property, for example, a door has been tried when you’re in the house, or a car has been parked outside of your property, make sure to make a note of it. This could be important to police investigations if you are targeted.

Security grilles

These can be a significant measure to prevent crime in your area, especially in city centres. The presence of a security grille ensures that criminals know that your property is not one to be trifled with. If you are looking for security grilles in Nottingham, These can be purchased online or over the phone. Similarly if you own a business, if you are shutting up for a period longer than a few days, a security grille is an effective crime deterrent.

Alarm systems

Alarm systems are a necessity if you are looking out for your home security. An ADT advertisement in 2010 claimed that 84 percent of thieves avoid homes with alarms. This is a fairly alarming statistic (if you will excuse the pun), as many homeowners in Britain still have no burglar alarm installed in their properties. Spending a bit of money on your home security can help to ensure that you are safe from thieves, and something like a simple alarm system can prevent your prized possessions falling into the hands of criminals.

If you live in the Nottingham area and you would like to keep up to date with all crime taking place in your area there are various online news websites around, one of them being the following:

http://www.nottinghampost.com/crime

Use the above tips to your advantage, stay secure and stay safe!

Pictured: The Castle Meadows retail park in Nottingham.

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