In pubs and clubs, mobile phone thefts are a common problem. In Brighton police in Operation Tealeaf seek to make people more aware of their belongings when out and about in the city.
In the last few months officers have been putting magnetic versions of posters that highlight mobile phone thefts on the back of police vans. Sussex Police Sergeant Dave Bennett who leads on Op Tealeaf said: “The posters were distributed towards the end of 2012 to all the main bars and clubs but we now have magnetic versions that can be put on any police van that is patrolling the city day or night. Although the posters are fun to look at they do push home the right message and officers have had lots of positive comments from people when they have been out and about. After all, you wouldn’t leave £500 on the side of a table in a pub or club, so why leave a £500 phone in the same way.
“We recognise that mobile phone theft has been a problem in the city for a while and we are taking positive steps along with our partners to deal with it and I am pleased to say it is now starting to have an impact. For example, in the regency area of Brighton there were 479 reported mobile phone thefts between January and March 2012 but for the same period this year it dropped to 263. But this is still too high a number and we will continue to try and drive down the number of thefts and make in particular the student population aware who are quite often victims of mobile phone thefts.”
Other ways Op Tealeaf seeks to tackle mobile phone thefts:
As part of Op Marble (policing of the night time economy) two officers are now specifically assigned to Operation Tealeaf. High visibility policing in venues is alternated with plain clothed work. Officers walk through venues identifying areas of concern to door staff and management and point out persons of interest.
Operation Tealeaf posters have been handed to most venues within the Brighton Cumulative Impact Zone – areas where there is a high concentration of pubs and clubs.
Plain clothes operations are also run throughout the business area of the town including Churchill Square which includes coffee shops and retail shops.
A trap mobile phone and other items have been deployed within licensed premises in the town centre and there have been three positive outcomes since Feb 2013.
