21/05/2003

PSNI launch 'House Safe' campaign

The PSNI in South Belfast have launched the first phase of ‘House Safe’, a campaign developed in response to the increasing problem of domestic burglaries in South Belfast.

Police said that the campaign, an initiative by South Belfast District Command Unit, is aimed at the habitual offender, working to disrupt and frustrate their behaviour.

Launching on the initiative, Inspector Keith Gilchrist, South Belfast DCU said: “The House Safe campaign has been specifically developed to target the problem of domestic burglaries in the South Belfast District Command Unit which experiences some of the highest rates of this particular crime in Northern Ireland.

Statistics show that on average, taking into account damage and stolen property, each burglary costs around £2,300. Last year South Belfast had 1,082 domestic burglaries, which equals a loss of an estimated £2.5 million to householders.

Inspector Gilchrist said that the combination of intelligence led policing, positive police action and collaboration between key agencies in South Belfast would facilitate a unified approach to tackle the problem.

The campaign promises high-visibility pro-active police action, through the key positioning of mobile police stations, and an increased number of officers on the beat, as part of the strategy to help reduce burglaries.

Police officers from the South Belfast area joined with the members of the South Belfast District Policing Partnership Sub Group to launch the initiative.

Welcoming the initiative, Harry Smith, the Chairperson of the South Belfast District Policing Partnership, said: “Figures for burglary in South Belfast have risen by some 18% since last year which represents a significant increase in this type of crime. House Safe seems to be a genuine initiative by police to lower this specific type of crime."

The House Safe Campaign will run in a number of phases over the next two years.

The initial police operation will target five specific ‘hot spot’ areas in South Belfast.

(MB/SP)

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