Drop in antisocial behaviour and shoplifting thanks to CCTV pods

The introduction of CCTV security pods in Darlington has seen a significant drop in anti-social behaviour and shoplifting incidents.

Darlington neighbourhood team recently trialled the pods, designed and manufactured by Safer Group and funded by Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen, in three key retail locations of the town which were being targeted with ASB and shoplifting.

The pods, which have never been used in UK policing before, were in place for six weeks in the run up to Christmas, to measure their impact on the local retail environment.

Prior to the trial, there were 21 reported incidents of shoplifting in the identified areas and following the introduction of the pods that fell to just 1.

18 incidents of anti-social behaviour were also reported and that fell to zero; this reduction saved Durham Constabulary nearly £20,000.

Waterstones in Darlington Town Centre saw a huge reduction in theft of one particular product after installing the pods in their store.

Neighbourhood Inspector Matt Plumb said: “In every community people want to feel safe where they live and work: safe from anti-social behaviour, safe from shoplifting, and safe from personal robbery.

“Over the last year, overall crime has been cut by 6.8%, residential burglary is down by 4.9% and violent crime is down by 13.1% and we will continue to drive these figures down by using all the tools at our disposal.

“Visible targeted patrols are the bedrock of community policing, and effective deterrents in detecting and preventing anti-social behaviour and serious violent crime but we must not stop there and we recognise the need to continue to invest in technology to make it safer where you live.”

Safer Group Chief Executive, Ryan Clark added: “The results from this trial are nothing short of remarkable, showcasing our Safer POD® S1’s effectiveness in deterring criminal activity and creating a safer environment for businesses and the community alike.

“The Safer POD® S1 has proven itself to be a powerful tool in combating retail crime, supporting Durham Constabulary and playing a vital role in fostering safer communities.”

Due to the success of the trial in Darlington, additional pods are set to be installed in other parts of County Durham and Darlington in the coming months.

Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen, who funded the six-week trial said: “These results are impressive and demonstrate the value in letting potential offenders know they are being watched in areas that suffer disproportionately from crime. As well as deterring offending, the anti-crime pods are hugely reassuring for retailers and shopworkers and can provide them with a renewed sense of confidence as they go about their work.

“Much of the crime on our high streets is opportunistic, with criminals adopting an ‘easy pickings’ mentality. It is vital we thwart such behaviour and make our public spaces stronger and more inhospitable to criminals to protect livelihoods, shop staff and our economy.

“Retail crime is a top priority in my new Police, Crime and Justice Plan, and I am working closely with businesses and retail representatives to increase confidence and trust across the sector, funding new resources and technology to crackdown on shoplifting and violence against shopworkers and to provide the enhanced support retailers and businesses have asked for."