Autumn Nights Safety Campaign

Autumn Nights Safety Campaign

Met Police & Local Authority - Working Together For A Safer Barking & Dagenham

With the clocks having gone back, the evenings become darker earlier, the opportunities for criminals increase and we often see a rise in burglaries, as many homes are left unlit alerting burglars to homes that are empty. We also see rises in anti-social behaviour and street crimes. As a result, the Autumn Nights Safety Campaign is aimed to tackle anti-social behaviour and associated criminality.

The Autumn Nights Safety campaign offers residents advice on how to stay safe both at home and when out-and-about as the nights draw in and the days become shorter.

This is a good time of year to review your home security, and we recommend taking steps to check you are Autumn ready.

Key advice for residents include:

Always lock your doors and windows at night and when leaving your home, even for short periods. Remember with UPVC doors, it is essential to lock the door fully to be secure. LIFT the handle, LOCK the door with the key and then REMOVE the key from the lock. Simply lifting the handle does not lock your door or window. Many offences have been committed by suspects gaining entry via insecure doors and windows.

Light up your home. Use timer switches for lighting to come on earlier within your home and utilise outside lighting.

Keep your home visible by keeping shrubs, bushes and fences low, giving criminals nowhere to hide.

CCTV can be a valuable tool and act as a deterrent. Ensure you display signage to act as a warning and check legislation that your CCTV complies with the law.

For more information on how to protect your home visit

www.met.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/protect-home-crime/keep-burglars-out-property/

Here are some tips for keeping yourself safe when you are out and about this Autumn.

Please remember that if you feel threatened or are in danger, always dial 999.

Be aware of your surroundings when walking alone, especially at night, tell family or friends where you are look up, look out.

Plan your route avoiding shortcuts in isolated places.

Try not to walk along with your phone or valuables on show.

Record your mobile phone IMEI number using *#06# and activate a tracking. app. Try and use the tracking app as soon as you can before thief can disable it.

For more information about personal safety, please visit www.met.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/personal-safety-how-to-stay-safe/

Share your experience of where you felt unsafe to StreetSafe – a pilot designed for the public to anonymously tell us about public places where they’ve felt unsafe. StreetSafe – police.uk

The campaign will also remind residents of the safety advice around attending or taking part in events such as Halloween and Bonfire Night.

Barking & Dagenham’s Police Neighbourhoods Chief Inspector Mo Mahmood said:

“When the nights become longer we often see an increase in crime and anti social behaviour and this can leave people feeling more vulnerable.

Our advice to residents is to be aware of your surroundings and your valuables. Keep your mobile phone in your pocket and avoid using unless in well-lit areas if possible.

There will be increased patrols on certain evenings in the areas most affected such as the town centre, Heathway and open spaces. We continue to work closely with Barking & Dagenham council whether it is with CCTV operators to monitor key locations and intercept potential offenders or visiting shops selling fireworks with Trading Standards to ensure they are complying with legislation.

Our Safer Neighbourhood Police teams are able to speak with residents who feel vulnerable or scared, particularly at Halloween and Bonfire Night. You can reach out to your local team via Met Engage. Visit www.metengage.co.uk where you can find out more information about the officers dedicated to where you live.

To report crime or anti social behaviour, you can do this via the Met police website www.met.police.uk, call 101, but always 999 in an emergency.

For more detailed crime prevention advice, visit our webpage https://www.met.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/

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Maria Chilton
(Metropolitan Police, Comms & Engagement, East Area)