Public urged to help protect churches from crime
Wednesday, 1st June 2011.
People living in Suffolk’s communities are being urged to keep an eye on churches, as police work with parishes to keep them safe.
A church crime prevention seminar was held last week at Earl Stonham Church, where delegates from around 30 churches met with police, insurers, the diocese and members of the Mid-Suffolk Crime Prevention Panel to hear about the latest ways to improve security and guard against theft.
The majority of churches in the county now use SmartWater, a forensic marking solution which is applied to lead on the roof and can also be transferred onto the criminal, linking them to the crime scene.
SmartWater is invisible to the naked eye, but is detectable by police and licensed scrap metal dealers using specialised equipment. Stolen lead can then be traced back to the church it was stolen from, and the thief apprehended.
Mid-Suffolk crime reduction officer Georgi Hawkes organised the seminar, and said communities were just as important in preventing and detecting crime as the more high-tech solutions.
“Members of the public are often key to our efforts to catch and convict criminals. Many use churches, the heart of the rural community, regularly and so can spot any persons or vehicles that are out of the ordinary.
"If you live within sight of a church you are ideally placed to keep an eye out for suspicious activity, please get into the habit of looking!
“If you see anything suspicious, dial 999 immediately – do not delay your call to the next day as by that time it is often too late to catch the criminal.
"In particular, look out for activity during the hours of darkness. Large vehicles such as vans and pick-up trucks, people with ladders, and people moving wheelie bins around may be unusual, or you may hear suspicious noises.
"If you see workmen at the church, check with the warden if they’re legitimate, and if in doubt dial 999 without delay.”
Any parochial church council wishing to improve security at their own church can speak to their local crime reduction officer on 01473 613500.
A church crime prevention seminar was held last week at Earl Stonham Church, where delegates from around 30 churches met with police, insurers, the diocese and members of the Mid-Suffolk Crime Prevention Panel to hear about the latest ways to improve security and guard against theft.
The majority of churches in the county now use SmartWater, a forensic marking solution which is applied to lead on the roof and can also be transferred onto the criminal, linking them to the crime scene.
SmartWater is invisible to the naked eye, but is detectable by police and licensed scrap metal dealers using specialised equipment. Stolen lead can then be traced back to the church it was stolen from, and the thief apprehended.
Mid-Suffolk crime reduction officer Georgi Hawkes organised the seminar, and said communities were just as important in preventing and detecting crime as the more high-tech solutions.
“Members of the public are often key to our efforts to catch and convict criminals. Many use churches, the heart of the rural community, regularly and so can spot any persons or vehicles that are out of the ordinary.
"If you live within sight of a church you are ideally placed to keep an eye out for suspicious activity, please get into the habit of looking!
“If you see anything suspicious, dial 999 immediately – do not delay your call to the next day as by that time it is often too late to catch the criminal.
"In particular, look out for activity during the hours of darkness. Large vehicles such as vans and pick-up trucks, people with ladders, and people moving wheelie bins around may be unusual, or you may hear suspicious noises.
"If you see workmen at the church, check with the warden if they’re legitimate, and if in doubt dial 999 without delay.”
Any parochial church council wishing to improve security at their own church can speak to their local crime reduction officer on 01473 613500.
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