Chuka Umunna MP

Tessa Jowell, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, and Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Streatham, promote free discount vouchers for home security products as part of a government package of support to help the public prevent burglary and keep crime down.

On 17 April 2007, Tessa Jowell, MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, and Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Streatham, visited B&Q West Norwood to promote free government advice packs for people concerned about becoming victims of burglary.

The pack provides simple and practical advice on what local people can do to prevent burglary and includes discount vouchers for home security products from B&Q and Focus.

The initiative is part of a £20 million package of practical measures to keep crime down. Other measures include:

• Intensified police operations around the country to turn the tables on repeat burglars, with burglary a top priority for the police nationally. This will be backed by £3 million funding in targeted areas, to step up the monitoring and management of burglars on release from prison.
• A new £6 million Safer Homes fund to pay for local handy-people to visit up to 45,000 homes of people who are less likely to have good home security, such as older people and people on low incomes, and install security devices such as window locks making those houses more secure.
• New advice from insurers on what home security measures householders can install to get the best deal from the insurance market.

Local residents can obtain the free advice pack by calling 0800 456 1213. The pack includes the following:

• advice leaflets on preventing burglary and distraction burglary;
• a printed version of the online personalised home security self-assessment from the Home Office website;
• a ‘before you leave the house’ security checklist to put by the front door;
• a guide to Neighbourhood Watch and the benefits of setting up a scheme;
• advice for tenants on home security – their responsibilities and the landlord’s responsibilities;
• a copy of the Policing Pledge; and
• discount vouchers for home security devices at B&Q stores.

Commenting on their visit, Umunna and Jowell said:

“Burglary has more than halved in the last decade and it important we keep it that way.

“The public are our best weapon in fighting crime and, working together, we can stop those criminals who think they can take advantage in these tough economic times.”

Bret Phipps, General Manager of the West Norwood branch of B&Q said:

“B&Q is committed to making people feel safer in their own homes. We offer sensible precautions that needn’t be expensive – bolts, padlocks and timer switches are available from £2.

“We are delighted to support the govenment’s new resource pack. This pack will provide money off vouchers for B&Q’s 1000 home security products, enabling people to feel safer in their homes, ensuing greater piece of mind.”

Anyone who is concerned about burglary can also contact their local neighbourhood police team for information on crime prevention by visiting www.direct.gov.uk/policingpledge and using the postcode search facility to find their contact details.

Jowell and Umunna were accompanied by the Deputy Leader of Lambeth Council, Cllr Jackie Meldrum.