Neighbourhood renewal project involving SelectaDNA wins Lancashire POP Award

(11/03/2010)

A neighbourhood renewal project that has been using SelectaDNA to help improve the quality of life for residents in a deprived area of Lancashire has scooped a Problem Oriented Partnership (POP) Award at a recent ceremony held in Blackpool.

The Lancashire POP Awards are held annually at the De Vere Hotel, Blackpool, and are sponsored by the De Vere hotel group. The awards are presented to representatives from various agencies involved in community schemes in recognition of their use of partnership working to resolve a problem.

The top POP award for 2009 went to an initiative which saw the introduction of polycarbonate glasses in pubs and clubs in Blackpool.

Meanwhile, the scheme involving SelectaDNA came first in the POP awards for the Fylde area, and came second overall.

Titled ‘Shaping the Place’, the scheme was launched in 2007 as a partnership involving Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire Fire & Rescue, North Lancashire PCT, Lancashire Probation Trust, together with Lancashire Police Authority.

As part of the scheme, residents of more than 200 properties on St Albans Road (in the central ward of St Annes), together with the owners of a number of small retail outlets and takeaway restaurants, aswell as a large YMCA situated on the road, were encouraged to mark any items of value in their homes or businesses with a SelectaDNA property marking kit.

Each kit contains a bottle of the SelectaDNA formula, which consists of an ultraviolet tracer and a unique DNA code. The clear liquid was applied by residents to electrical items, garden equipment, jewellery and retail stock to identify it as belonging to their property. If an item is stolen and later recovered by police, it can be scanned and traced back to the owner via the DNA marking.

However, since 2007 to date, there have been ZERO burglaries reported in St Albans Road, and the scheme has been judged a huge success.

Bryan Ward, Community Safety Manager at Fylde Community Safety Partnership, said: “SelectaDNA has definitely played a part in the reduction of crime in the area and the deterrent warning signs erected along the road have been instrumental in keeping burglars away.”

Mr Ward continued: “We are delighted to have done so well at the POP awards. Residents of St Albans Road are increasingly proud of the area they live in and it has sparked regeneration in the neighbourhood.

“With the £500 prize money, residents have suggested buying a stone planter to be filled with plants to add colour to the street corner.”

Chief Superintendent Richard Debicki, Divisional Commander for the Western Division of Lancashire Constabulary, had nothing but praise for this year’s POP winners.

He said: "These awards aim to recognise the hard work being done on a daily basis by so many people to make our streets as safe as possible. All of the initiatives put forward for awards were of an extremely high standard which demonstrates some of the fantastic work being done to solve community problems in Blackpool and the Fylde."

Related topics:  Tagging vandalism and theft prevention 

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