The UK vehicle security and telematics company Scorpion Automotive welcomed police Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs) to their head offices in Chorley, Lancashire. The event gave the DOCOs a glimpse behind the scenes of how vehicle trackers, alarms and immobilisers are designed and made.
Established in 1973, Scorpion Automotive provide products to vehicle manufacturers and the aftermarket for cars, vans, HGVs, plant, motorhomes, caravans, motorcycles and marine craft.
DOCOs are national police officers and staff trained by Secured by Design (SBD), the national police crime prevention initiative, who specialise in working to prevent people becoming victims of crime.
The DOCOs, from North Wales, Lancashire, Merseyside, West Mercia, Staffordshire and Cheshire Constabularies met Managing Director, Mark Downing and Head of Marketing and Sales Operations, Carl James. They were given a tour of Scorpion’s factory and R&D department, and learning how these products are most effectively used in response to modern day methods of vehicle theft.
Mark Downing said: “Scorpion deals directly with Police forces across the UK on a daily basis, engaging with them in live vehicle theft situations in both preventing the theft and post-theft recovery. SBD accreditation is important to Scorpion Automotive as it provides our customers with peace of mind that the quality, functionality and performance of our vehicle security and tracking products as well as our 24/7 Theft Monitoring provision meets the exacting standards of the scheme.”
SBD Development Officer Hazel Goss said: “We had a really interesting day, both visiting the factory where it all happens and visiting the 24/7 Theft Monitoring Centre where all the trackers are monitored, and to experience first-hand the frequent engagement between centre staff and police control rooms and units on the ground as and when a vehicle theft is in-progress.
“I personally learnt a lot about Scorpion’s products and their use, and the feedback from the Designing Out Crime Officers who attended was that this was an excellent learning experience for them too. I wish to thank Scorpion so much for taking time out of their busy schedule to facilitate our visit, and providing this training opportunity for the officers in support of their ongoing professional development.”
