16/11/2006
'Vehicle Crime' Competition Launch and Prize Giving Event at Shorefields Secondary School
Citysafe has funded this vehicle crime reduction initiative in order to combat vehicle crime, in particular theft of CD radios and Satellite Navigation systems from vehicles. Partners have being funded through Citysafe, namely Liverpool City Council's Children's Services and Merseyside Police have been working closely together to reduce this type of crime by raising awareness of the use of some very new and innovative technology i.e. 'tracking devices' through schools in Liverpool.
Once Satellite Navigation system or CD radio fitted with the new 'tracker' technology is stolen it will give off a signal and the Police will be alerted immediately. The Police can then track it with a view to arresting potential offenders and handlers. Any offenders arrested and charged will then be the subject of some very robust bail conditions that will be monitored daily.
Schools across Liverpool have been provided with a lesson plan detailing the tactic of using decoy tracker marked vehicles by police in Merseyside to catch car thieves. School children have had demonstrations showing the effectiveness and technical capability of the vehicle and the tracker technology.
The competition launch began with the arrival of the Police Helicopter onto the school playing field at Shorefields School which was greeted by the whole school. The three lucky winners were presented with their prizes of a laptop computer, an LCD television and an Ipod by Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, Bernard Hogan-Howe. The winners had been chosen from Liverpool Schools following the city wide competition to design a car sticker with the winning design going into production. The key message needed to be directed towards potential thieves spelling out that Satellite navigation systems and CD radios are being fitted with small tracking devices and there movements can be tracked.
The winning design will be made into thousands of car stickers to be distributed to retail outlets in Liverpool and distributed to car dealers and motorists at Vehicle Crime Awareness Days throughout December 2006.
As a result of using the tracker equipment a number of arrests have been made so far. Proof that the tracker system does work and that Sat/Nav as well as other similar I.T equipment can be fitted with tracking devices and as a result , offenders can be tracked ,identified and prosecuted . In addition the operation will increase feelings of safety and satisfaction for communities within the area where the equipment has been used.
For more information email: citysafe@liverpool.gov.uk
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