Small world for good ideas

A Kiwi crime prevention initiative has taken root on the other side of the world - and earned an award for a British police officer.

The North Wales Police Rural Crime team contacted the National Prevention Centre (NPC) after finding our Security Checklist for New Zealand Rural Properties on the internet.

Now the Welsh force has produced its own checklist, online and hard copy format – and PC Dave Allen, who led the project there, won its Tom Parry Jones award for innovation.

“It was unusual to work with police officers from many thousands of miles away, but what works in New Zealand will work here in Wales,” says Dave.

“It really is a simple format but will be effective in reducing rural crime and will make crimes more difficult for the opportunist thief.”

The checklist covers areas such as building, perimeter, equipment and firearms security, presence of alarms, contact within the local community and maintainance of records of livestock sales and purchases, earmarks and ear tags. An interactive format allows users to receive an instant online ‘score’ and advice.

“Dave has been in touch again to see if we have any other potential award-winning ideas to share,” says Senior Sergeant Alasdair Macmillan, of the NPC.

“Seriously, it’s extremely exciting to have good work recognised from the other side of the world. It shows policing is international and the issues we face are universal.

“There are no borders when it comes to sharing ideas and strategies.”

The New Zealand checklist can be found under ‘Useful resources’ from the Rural hub on the Police website – www.police.govt.nz/rural.