AVON AND SOMERSET CONSTABULARY

Little Britain’s Anthony Head to help tackle the hidden crime. (Bath)

Monday, 28 February 2005 13:37

Bath Police and leading energy supplier SWEB Energy have joined forces with “Little Britain” star Anthony Head to show the red card to distraction burglars and help tackle the nation’s “hidden crime.”

Bath and North East Somerset is to pioneer the new “nominated neighbour” scheme which is sponsored by SWEB Energy and aims to take head-on the scourge of the elderly and vulnerable – the distraction burglar.

Distraction burglary accounts for more than four per cent of all burglaries reported but only one tenth of distraction burglaries are actually reported.

Over the past 12 months 400 distraction burglaries were reported in Avon and Somerset police force area but police believe that the actually number is nearer to 4000. The average age of the victim is 81 and the average amount of cash taken is £300. Police believe that nationally more than £40m is duped from unsuspecting victims.

Now Bath Police have teamed up with SWEB Energy and Energywatch to tackle the opportunist burglar with a new easy to use card warning system.

And the new scheme has attracted the backing of Anthony Head, who plays the Prime Minister in hit TV series ‘Little Britain’ and also stars in “Monarch of the Glen” and “Buffy.” Anthony lives in BANES and has elderly parents living in the area.

He believes the new partnership project will be a sure fire success combating the opportunist burglar and helping to reinforce community spirit.

C/Supt Dave Hayler District Commander for Bath and North East Somerset Police said: “Distraction burglary is one of the most despicable crimes that we have to deal with. It not only affects the victim but impacts on other family members and the wider community. The Nominated Neighbour scheme will empower communities to look out for the elderly. We hope that those using the schemes will become less fearful of crime. The criminal will soon realise that the community is looking out for each other"

WEB Energy’s Stephen Vinall, energycare Customer Manager said: “We are delighted to work with the police to help fund such an important community initiative, which we hope will act as a blueprint for other similar programmes, bringing extra security to thousands of elderly and vulnerable people throughout the region. The new ‘Nominated Neighbour’ scheme perfectly complements the host of extra services we already provide to such members of the community.”

Government regulator Energywatch adds: “Energywatch welcomes this partnership between SWEB Energy and Avon and Somerset Constabulary, which aims to give consumers valuable protection in the home as well as promoting other services offered by SWEB Energy, such as the password scheme and special offers on home insulation and low energy light bulbs. As fuel prices continue to rise, energy efficiency measures can provide significant savings on your bills."

The new scheme is to be launched in BANES policing district on Wednesday March 2nd 2005 and then rolled out throughout the Avon and Somerset Constabulary.

** Press release courtesy of Avon and Somerset Constabulary - www.avonandsomerset.police.uk