Statistics from the Home Office indicate a significant increase in robberies within the wealthiest regions of the United Kingdom, rising by 26 percent, in contrast to an 11 percent increase in other areas. Furthermore, the data reveals that violent crime and theft are escalating at a faster rate in rural communities compared to urban ones.
The Telegraph, upon analyzing the Home Office statistics, has attributed the surge in crime to an amplified demand for drugs in affluent areas. This heightened demand, partly fueled by the increased availability due to county lines drug trafficking, has led to a corresponding rise in crimes committed in these regions.
County lines drug crime, which includes ghetto groups expanding their activities into additional rustic networks, is estimated to be worth more than £800,000 annually. These urban gangs, often possessing greater resources, employ violence to displace local dealers and exploit young and vulnerable individuals for drug distribution.
Consequently, in certain parts of Oxfordshire, where the average household income is £55,000, drug offenses have escalated by 60 percent within a single year. Similarly, specific areas of Kent, such as north-east Maidstone (with an average household income of £64,500), have witnessed a staggering increase of over 70 percent in violence and sexual offenses. Moreover, in central Cambridge, where the average household income stands at £70,900, robberies have surged by nearly 50 percent.
With an end goal to counter the dangers presented by region lines, the government has announced the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers nationwide. Furthermore, a new broad district lines crackdown has brought about the capture of in excess of 700 suspects and the capture of significant amounts of cocaine, rocks, and heroin, by and large esteemed at £426,040.
While this crackdown is undoubtedly positive for those residing and working in areas affected by county lines, the estimated existence of 2,000 active lines throughout the UK suggests that further efforts are still required to address this issue comprehensively.
How to Protect Your Premises
Are you residing or operating a business in an area affected by rising crime rates?If so, there are several effective measures you can undertake to diminish the likelihood of your property being targeted by criminals. Here are some recommendations.
How to Safeguard Your Home
- Whenever you depart your residence, secure your doors and windows – even if you’re merely stepping out into the garden.
- Conceal all keys from plain sight and at a considerable distance from the letterbox (as burglars can employ devices to retrieve keys through it).
- Install a burglar alarm – and ensure its visibility.
- Request a neighbor to keep a watchful eye on your property, and reciprocate the favor.
- When you go away, utilize a timer to turn on radios or lights at scheduled intervals to create the impression of an occupied home.
- Maintain the fences surrounding your garden in good condition.
- Secure bikes to immovable objects inside a locked shed or, preferably, a garage.
- Store any ladders securely – burglars can utilize ladders left in your garden to gain entry.
- Lock all side doors to forestall admittance to the back of the property.
- Further develop observation at the front of your property – for instance, trim high fences.
- Relocate any valuables out of view.
- Store high-esteem things – like money, gems, and travel papers – in a solid safe or bank vault.
- Consider supplanting glass boards in entryways with more grounded overlaid glass.
- Fit locks to ground floor windows or any higher up windows that are effectively available.
- Never open the door to strangers. Verify the identity of any callers by contacting the company they claim to represent. Use the phone number recorded in your nearby catalog – not a number given by the guest. (Exist anymore: the “Waterboard” does not exists, thus the term is just utilized by fake guests).
- Drop paper and milk conveyances at whatever point you go on vacation – a heap of unopened papers is an obvious sign to thieves that you’re away.
- Avoid discussing holiday plans on social networks, as burglars may exploit this information to target you.
How to Secure Your Business Premises
Statistics indicate that merely three percent of property is recovered following a burglary incident. Furthermore, only one out of every 10 reported crimes results in a charge being sustained. This reality highlights the importance of preventing burglaries, as it proves to be a far more viable approach than pursuing legal charges.
Here are the necessary measures to keep burglars at bay.
- Equip all external entrances and internal security doors with deadbolt locking mechanisms. In the case of employing padlocks, ensure they are constructed from sturdy steel materials. Additionally, remove any serial numbers from your locks to prevent the unauthorized duplication of keys.
- Line all outside and internal security doors with metal reinforcements and secure them with metal security crossbars. Any exposed hinges should be pinned to prevent their removal.
- Install secure locks and burglar-resistant glass on all windows. Considering the installation of metal grates on windows, excluding display windows.
- Ensure clear visibility into your store premises after closing hours and remove all expensive items from window displays.
- Illuminate the interior and exterior of your building during nighttime hours. Focus on lighting doors, windows, skylights, and any other potential entry points. Install covers over exterior light fixtures and power sources to prevent tampering.
- Leave cash registers open and empty when closing, and ensure they are visible and well-lit from the outside.
- Utilize a fireproof safe and anchor it securely. Keep it on display and leave it open when unfilled. Lock all valuables in the safe when closing and change the combination whenever an employee with access to it departs.
- Install an alarm system. Consult with your local police force and inquire about recommended vendors. Check the system daily and test it during closing procedures.
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