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Police tell criminals they will be following them around

Tuesday, 25th January 2011.

Police in west Suffolk are to write to regular criminals telling them they are going to follow them around to stop them committing offences.

Known felons who commit everyday crime are being followed by police as they embark on a unique three-month operation of 'close monitoring' to enhance residents’ lives.

Intelligence suggests that there are currently over 120 individuals actively involved in criminality across the county so a three-month initiative by Suffolk Police will aim to keep them under observation.

In a first for Suffolk Constabulary, offenders are being given letters from the force, explaining that they will be openly watched and filmed but will also be offered support from members of the Suffolk Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT).

Operation Apache aims to support traditional policing tactics to tackle prolific criminals, but Det Insp Andy Footer also believes the police need to target criminals in a different way.

“Apache is proving to be an effective weapon in our arsenal of tactics to use in the war against burglary, car crime and street robberies which all cause misery among communities and in society as a whole,” said DI Footer.

“If we follow these individuals, they cannot commit any crime. It really is that simple.

“By offering the help they need for any drugs dependencies we can remove their motive for committing burglaries in the first place, which can be to fund a drugs habit. This in turn can achieve a longer term reduction in offences committed by the individual.”

Intelligence is also gathered on their activities, with head and hand-held cameras being used by officers to film any acts that may need evidencing.

Once contact is made, they are given the opportunity to speak to a DAAT worker to give them the support they need if they are drug-dependent. It is this aspect of the operation that is key to the longer-term reduction of burglary.

Human rights have been given much consideration in the process of creating this new-style operation.

DI Footer added: “The Human Rights Act requires us to balance the rights of the individual and the rights of the community. We consider it our duty to protect the community from the reprehensible acts of these individuals we are targeting.

"We are not dealing with nuisance youths or children; these are active and prolific offenders who, by their illegal activities, cause misery to local residents. If they don’t like it, they can stop committing crimes.”

Suffolk DAAT manager Louise Jupp is pleased that her teams are being utilised as part of the police operation.

She said: "This operation enables our specialist drug and alcohol workers to make contact with drug-using offenders and encourage them to access such treatment and facilities which can really help them recover from their addiction."

DI Footer added: “It is also important that we work with other agencies to deal with the reason behind the desire to commit crime in the first place and this is usually a drug addiction. By offering them support from a DAAT worker, we can help stop their need to commit crime in the first place.”

Haverhill Online News

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