Robbery & Street Crime
The current situation
| What we’re doing about it
| What you can do
The current situation
Robbery (commonly called ‘mugging’) and
snatch theft are both types of street crime.
Robbery involves the use of force (or the fear of force)
to take property from an individual or business, while
snatch theft is snatching property from a victim without
using or threatening force.
Figures published on 21 October 2004 show that robbery
is coming down, with 15% fewer robberies in England
and Wales in the period April-June 2004 than in the
same period in 2003. Robbery has been falling since
the start of the Street Crime Initiative in April 2002.
The Street Crime Initiative was launched in April 2002
following rises in robbery in the months up to March
2002. It covers the ten police force areas which together
account for the bulk of robberies (83% in 2001/02):
the Metropolitan Police Service; West Midlands; Greater
Manchester; West Yorkshire; Avon and Somerset; Merseyside;
Nottinghamshire; Thames Valley; South Yorkshire and
Lancashire.
The Street Crime Initiative involves a wide range of
agencies working in partnership to reduce the level
of robbery, including the police and criminal justice
agencies, and there is also a role for agencies who
can contribute towards preventing crime from happening
in the first place.
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What we’re doing about it
There are several main elements to the Street Crime Initiative:
- The police in the ten street crime areas are targeting
street crime hotspots, deploying officers in operations
that reflect the features of street crime in their
local areas. Best practice is being spread to all
police forces in England and Wales so that the lessons
being learnt from the Street Crime Initiative can
be put into practice everywhere. Action is being taken
across the Criminal Justice System to reduce robbery,
including better case management and provisions for
victims and witnesses.
- A key part of the Street Crime Initiative involves
preventive work with young people, putting emphasis
on addressing the causes of crime. The Positive Activities
for Young People scheme runs during the school holidays.
Building on previous schemes, it focuses on those
young people most at risk of falling out of education
and into criminality, with key worker support provided.
- Reducing mobile phone theft is a key part of the
Initiative, as mobile phones are stolen in a significant
proportion of robberies (and are sometimes the only
item stolen). Police, industry and Government are
working in partnership to address mobile phone theft,
with steps being taken to advise members of the public
how to avoid becoming the victim of mobile phone theft,
and to what to do if their phone is stolen. Measures
have also been put in place to make stolen phones
useless to thieves.
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What you can do
The chances of you being a victim of robbery are low,
but there are plenty of things you can do to make it even
less likely. For example, be aware of your surroundings,
and keep your valuables hidden – talking on a mobile,
wearing headphones, carrying a laptop all show the thief
you have things worth taking.
- See
our tips and advice on personal safety –
when you’re out and about, in taxis and on public
transport, or on the television (and listen to the
adverts on the radio).
- Visit
Good2BSecure – a website especially for
students and young people, who are among the biggest
risk groups for robbery.
- Visit
Out of your Hands - a website which offers tips
about how to keep your mobile phone safe and tells
you what to do if your phone is stolen.
- Immobilise
your mobile immediately if it gets stolen (call
your network, or 08701 123 123).
- Contact
your local authority and ask to speak to a Community
Safety Officer.
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