Police initiative 'We don't buy crime' wins national award.

The West Mercia Police programme that aims to reduce crimes such as burglary and theft was launched in 2015 in response to serious crimes and associated harm.

Yesterday it was announced as the Tilley Awards winner of the partners category.

The Tilley Awards celebrate initiatives that seek to find longer term solutions to issues and transform ways of working across police and partners to reduce demand.

Chief Superintendent Tom Harding has led We Don’t Buy Crime since its inception four years ago. He said: “This is fantastic news, I’m absolutely thrilled that We Don’t Buy Crime has been recognised for the fantastic and innovative work that has been carried out to help stop people from being a victim of burglary or theft.

“We are fortunate that the counties we cover across West Mercia Police are relatively safe but one thing I have always been acutely aware of is how much crimes such as burglary and theft affect our communities.”

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The initiative started as a project that sees police work with West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion and local parish and town councils to provide whole communities with a SmartWater forensic property marking kit. Signs are displayed throughout the area to warn criminals the whole community has taken crime prevention measures.

Now, there are five strands to We Don’t Buy Crime with the team working with second-hand shops to identify stolen goods, fuel stations to not just prevent people from driving off without paying for their fuel but to work with police to report any suspicious activity and utilising the latest in covert techniques to catch criminals when they do commit crime.

Last year, to help address the associated harm that often comes with serious acquisitive crime an exploitation and vulnerability strand was launched with staff providing inputs to organisations and community groups to help them recognise the signs someone may be being exploited and what to do if they do suspect they are.