VILLAGERS in Brinklow are warning criminals they are no soft touch.
The village has joined a crime prevention initiative funded by the Warwickshire police and crime commissioner Philip Seccombe.
By gaining ‘Supported Village’ status, villagers are demonstrating their community is not a soft touch for rural crime, with households and community buildings being offered advice on how to protect themselves against crime and working with local officers to mark their property.
The programme, part of the Rural Crime Project, aims to help communities with long-time crime prevention action and advice.
Over the past year, parish councillors have been working with PCSO David Banks, supported by other members of the Rugby Police Safer Neighbourhood Team and North Warwickshire’s Rural Crime Co-ordinator, Carol Cotterill, on the project.
Several property marking days have been held where villagers were invited to bring items to be marked and get crime prevention advice – and community locations such as the church, school, allotments and clubs have all also been proactively involved and provided with signage.
‘Thieves Beware’ signs are also now at all entries to the village warning people they are entering a village where property is marked.
To mark its new ‘Supported Village’ status, the parish council was presented with a crime prevention toolbox and a community box by Warwickshire deputy police and crime commissioner, Rob Tromans. Both boxes provide information and equipment for the parish council to support local residents with further property marking and crime prevention in the future.
Brinklow is the fourth village in the Rugby district to join the Supported Villages Scheme after Binley Woods, Willoughby and Wolvey.
David Lowe, chair of Brinklow Parish Council, said “We as a parish council are really pleased to work with Warwickshire Police and the Rural Crime Coordinator on this initiative to help protect the residents of Brinklow by being part of the Supported Villages Scheme.”
Mr Seccombe said: “Communities can play a major part in the fight against crime by ensuring they take sensible precautions to protect their valuables and ensure that everyone knows that the village as a whole is security conscious and working together with the local police to deter criminal activity.”
