Admin l November 28, 2016
LONDON – The Metropolitan Police Service today launched a short film to help motivate Londoners to take simple steps to avoid becoming a victim of burglary.
The #BeAHero video posted on YouTube, shows a local resident being celebrated as a crime fighting hero by police, the media and her neighbours for double locking her front door.
The unsuspecting resident is overwhelmed by the attention and is then taken on an open top bus ride around her neighbourhood to a rapturous reception from the public.
The innovative film supports the Met’s #BeSafe crime prevention campaign that is currently being trialled in a Barnet, Enfield and Lambeth.
#BeSafe aims to motivate, empower and mobilise Londoners to take small crime prevention steps to protect themselves and their property, while officers continue to work hard to disrupt and arrest the criminals.
It will see a range of media including digital advertising, radio and PR targeted at residents to help them take simple crime prevention steps to reduce their risk of burglary.
Met will also be working closely with partners to amplify the campaign and develop packs containing burglary prevention advice to support vulnerable residents in our pilot boroughs.
Speaking on the film, Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt, said: “We need to get everyone involved and enable them to look after themselves and work with us to prevent crime. This campaign is about creating an energy and making everyone realise they can be a hero by doing very simple things.”
The campaign is supported by operational activity – but simple crime prevention can make it more difficult for criminals and reduce the risk of crime, Met Police said, adding Londoners can get involved and #BeAHero by using the advice themselves to avoid becoming a victim of crime.
The statement added that research commissioned by the Met has identified how best to empower the public to take simple steps to keep their property safe and secure.
“The research identified that people know what the crime prevention advice is but don’t always use it. Our research told us that Londoners are really frightened about burglary – so frightened that they don’t let themselves think about it.
“They also don’t believe that easy things can protect them. They think that there is some expert advice that the police can give them that is more effective than these easy things”, it said.
The campaign will be fully evaluated so that Met can understand what has been effective and improve its crime prevention messaging and campaigns going forward.
“The next phase of #BeSafe will give advice to people in the run up to Christmas on how to keep their mobile phones safe”, Met Police said.
