Safe and Secure Homes was established in Mansfield as a response to the need to address the Government’s target of reducing domestic burglary by 25% between 199 – 2005. To address this the project aims to:

The project targeted an area which had a high rate of domestic burglary and where fear of crime was high.

Safe and Secure Homes is a comprehensive free home security service to residents in five of the most deprived neighbourhoods in Mansfield. Talks about the skills required to get the project up and running.

Eight project workers and two supervisory staff work in teams of two (wearing distinct uniforms and driving liveried vans). The programme is promoted through leaflet drops, media relations, local agencies and residents groups.

Residents are offered free burglar alarms with two passive infra red detectors. Smoke alarms, hot water cylinder jackets, wall and roof insulation and free energy efficiency light bulbs are offered and fitted where appropriate for free.

The team also conducts a safety audit with residents. Staff can also invisibly mark property which makes instant and permanent identification of the item available to the police.

In the first six months of the project almost half of the 5,460 properties have been alarmed. Domestic burglary rates have fallen dramatically, with one neighbourhood recording an 80% reduction on the level during the same six months as a year ago.

Overall domestic burglary rates have fallen by 40% and the neighbourhoods are now well under average for the Mansfield and Ashfield Police area as a whole. The impact on quality of life for residents can be profound.

Mansfield Area Strategic Partnership
Anne Chisholm (NRF Development Officer)

//2001

case

Urban Policy

Security & crime prevention, Housing