Helping To Improve Quality Of Life

An initiative using SelectaDNA to tackle a burglary hotspot in Blyth, Northumberland, has been implemented to improve the neighbourhood and reduce the number of burglaries.

Cowpen Quay has been identified as a particularly deprived area with two streets within the Blyth Terraces area having a disproportionately high level of burglaries. Signage has been erected in this area warning that SelectaDNA is being used to protect local properties.

Sergeant Jill Hall from Blyth Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “All 273 properties within the two streets identified were visited and an environmental survey completed with residents. Our vision is that by improving the area, the number of burglaries will be reduced, together with the demand on police and partners, giving local people an improved quality of life.”

Sergeant Hall said SelectaDNA was also used in the affected streets to help prevent future burglaries, bringing down crime. Officers provided residents with the crime prevention kits and assisted them in marking valuables in their homes. This included marking mobiles, laptops, iPods, tvs, ornaments and jewellery with SelectaDNA microdot technology, which gives individual property a minute and unique reference number which is kept on a secure database.

"We initially focused on previously burgled premises and any vulnerable residents or isolated locations as a priority - this is the first time this has been used in Blyth," Sergeant Hall added.

"The use of SelectaDNA reduces the chances of being burgled by 83% and helps protect homes. Signs were displayed as a visible deterrent to show the addresses are protected and a DNA code registered on the database.”

“This means that if any of the marked property is stolen it is identifiable to the address. Any stolen property recovered by police can be checked for a microdot and if found, can more easily be reunited with its rightful owner.

"This initiative is all about engaging with the community and improving the area in which they live and by doing this with local people, we hope it will reduce incidents of burglary."