Community Safety Partnership and Gosling Sports Park tackle car crime together

When Gosling Sports Park found that vehicle crime in their car park was on the rise, they contacted Welwyn Hatfield’s Community Safety Partnership (CSP) – your partners for a safer, stronger neighbourhood – for support.

Vehicle crime is defined as theft of a vehicle, theft from vehicles, criminal damage to a vehicle and attempted theft.

In the space of nine months, the car park had seen 40 incidents of vehicle crime, which was close to the usual total for an entire year. The majority of these cases were theft from vehicles. Thanks to initiatives introduced by both the CSP and Gosling, this figure has dropped to just two incidents in the last two months.

The successful measures have included:

• Installation of a state-of-the art CCTV system projecting high resolution digital video images directly to a control room at St Albans where officers monitor live footage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Regular security patrols at peak times by Gosling’s operational and car wash staff
• The installation of powerful new floodlights in the customer car park
• Reduction of hedgerows to improve visibility across the parking aisles
• Displaying crime prevention posters around the Sports Park offering preventative advice and guidelines aimed at helping vehicle users to combat car crime and requesting customers to advise Gosling staff of anything suspicious.

Duncan Kerr, Chief Executive at Gosling Sports Park, said: “With help from the CSP we introduced a range of measures to try and reduce vehicle crime. These ranged from the really simple, such as hourly patrols by our staff and leaving leaflets on vehicles that appeared vulnerable, to more substantial work which included introducing CCTV and cutting back hedges to enhance visibility in the car park.

“The work we did was both about deterring criminals as well as educating people visiting our facilities on how to avoid becoming an easy target. We continue to work with partners from the CSP to keep our customers and their possessions safe and are grateful to the CSP for all their support and work.”

County Councillor Richard Smith, Chair of the CSP, added: “A combination of funding and officer resource from the CSP has really helped deal with the vehicle crime problem at Gosling Sports Park. Particular thanks must go to Duncan Kerr at Gosling, PC Linda Stevens and Sergeant Berwick from the Hertfordshire Constabulary and Tim Beyer from Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council.”

There are some simple tips to reduce the chance of becoming a victim of vehicle crime:

• Remember to check that all doors are locked, windows shut and – if you have one – that the alarm is set.
• Park in well-lit areas.
• Do not leave bags or coats in view.
• Try not to leave any valuables in the car.

The CSP is currently running a reassurance campaign called ‘Safer Stronger’. Watch out for the eye-catching posters and banners around the borough. More information about the campaign can be found on the Welwyn Hatfield Alliance’s website or you can email feelsafe@welhat.gov.uk or call 01707 357282.