Talking lampposts warn off muggers - BBC News, 25th February 2004
27% reduction in theft from cars in Salford - Salford City Council, 10th December 2004
Talking Signs to warn about crime - BBC News, 10th February 2005
Talking Signs voice U.K. police warning. Recordings caution public of muggers operating in London - MSNBC News, 2nd March 2004
Word of warning from the lamp-post - Manchester News, 8th September 2004
A crime awareness sign that talks to you! - East Riding of Yorkshire Council, 2004
Crime Prevention Initiative Is First For Leicestershire - North West Leicestershire District Council, 3rd February 2005
Keeping crime free is the word on the streets of Bradford as ‘talking signs’ strike a chord with shoppers. - West Yorkshire Police, 16th February 2005
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FOR NORTHAMPTON CAR PARK USERS
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Talking lampposts warn off muggers - BBC News, 25th February 2004
"Talking" lampposts are warning south Londoners to be wary of muggers in an unusual scheme to tackle street crime. Ten metal speakers stuck 15 feet up lampposts in Streatham and Norwood are triggered by motion sensors. A well-spoken man's voice tells passers-by: "Please look after your mobile phones - street robbers are operating in this area."
The Metropolitan Police say if the scheme proves successful it could be rolled out to other parts of London.
The speakers, which are about the size of a bird box, have been put around the railway station and bus stops to warn people returning home from work. "The tendency is for people, as they get off the bus or train, to pick their mobile phones from their pockets and say: "I'll be home in 10 minutes," crime prevention officer Pc Dave Skinner told BBC News Online. "The robbers know this as well, so they follow people down into the side roads off the main A23."
Pc Skinner spotted the loudspeaker boxes in a technology innovations magazine and thought it would complement the force's continuing Safer Streets scheme. He says he has been teased a little by his colleagues who say the boxes gave them a shock. But he added: "That's the effect I'm trying for. If you have a bit of a shock, you take it on board and you might think twice about getting your mobile phone out."
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27% reduction in theft from cars in Salford - Salford City Council, 10th December 2004
27% reduction in theft from cars in Salford Sep 02/Aug 03 to Sep 03/Aug 04. Source: audited key crime stats (police)
Phase I of the talking signs scheme was launched in September with five of the signs being erected on lamp posts in the Trinity area.
Each sign has a motion sensor that is triggered as people walk past. It reminds vehicle owners to remove all valuables from display and to make sure their vehicles are left safe and secure. The signs are mobile and can easily be programmed to give out a number of different crime prevention methods.
The Salford Crime and Disorder Partnership is made up of public and private agencies each playing their part to reduce crime and disorder in Salford, in partnership with local communities. The partners include the city council, the police, fire and health services, criminal justice and probation services, the Chamber of Commerce, the Youth Offending Team and the Drug Action Team.
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Talking Signs to warn about crime - BBC News, 10th February 2005
Thousands of pounds is being spent installing talking road signs in parts of Leicestershire.
Thirty signs are being put up at a cost of £9,000 in car parks around North West Leicestershire.
One of eight pieces of recorded advice on safety and crime will be played to motorists when they step within six feet of the signs.
It follows the introduction of patrols, CCTV and improved lighting to help cut the amount of theft.
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Talking Signs voice U.K. police warning. Recordings caution public of muggers operating in London - MSNBC News, 2nd March 2004
"Police warning: Keep your mobile phones safe robbers operate in this area, says a voice recording that emanates from a metal box mounted on a Streatham railway sign, in the borough of Lambeth, south London. London police have mounted talking signs on lampposts to warn dwellers of the British capital’s most dangerous borough of muggers waiting to prey on them. Police warning: Keep your mobile phones safe robbers operate in this area, a man's voice says as commuters step out of a south London railway station.
Heads turn, but the voice is difficult to locate: It emanates from a birdhouse-sized black box located 15 feet up a signpost.
In addition to cautionary posters, the "talking" signs were installed this month at 10 locations in the districts of Streatham and Norwood, as part of Operation Safer Streets 5, a crime prevention plan for the borough of Lambeth.
We’ve had a look of bemusement from people, and one or two people have been quite startled by it, but that’s precisely the reaction I’m looking for, said Police Constable David Skinner, a crime prevention officer.
"Especially late at night, people come out of the railway station or come off the bus, and the first thing they do is phone home and say ‘I’ll be home in 10 minutes,’ and then they get followed down the side streets by the street robbers," he said adding that once a person is targeted for their cell phone, they will often have "readily exposed items and cash" stolen from them as well.
Lambeth has the unenviable reputation as London's most dangerous borough. In January alone, police reported 363 instances of street crimes, although that was down from a high of 544 for the same month three years ago.
"It’s very dangerous in this area," said a Streatham railway station worker who asked not to be identified. Speaking from behind protective glass, she said, "I’ve seen (cell phones) stolen right here in front of the ticket window."
‘Talking sign’ advertisement
Skinner said the police force was "floating around a few ideas to use a loudspeaker, perhaps have one of our officers drive around with one" when he saw "talking signs" advertised in a technology innovations brochure.
Realizing the device’s potential, Skinner showed the brochure to his managers, who agreed that the signs could provide a less labor-intensive way of informing the public of the dangers associated with using cell phones.
The "talking signs" from Stock Displays Limited in Doncaster, Yorkshire, came programmed with eight different crime prevention messages, and new warnings can be recorded on them should a surge in another type of crime occur. "I’m hoping that if they’re successful it’ll be rolled out to a wider area," Skinner said.
The Streatham railway station worker said that commuters appeared to listen to the "talking sign" situated just outside the station’s entrance. "You can hear it, so you would take notice, but I can’t tell if it’ll make a difference," she said.
Despite Lambeth's high crime rate, the police force proudly notes that crime in the borough has been cut by 47 percent in the last two years. "Even by New York standards that’s quite impressive," Skinner said.
Tossing around ideas for other ways the "talking signs" could be put to use, "like to warn the blind about flooding," he said, "See we’re always thinking of new innovations."
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Word of warning from the lamp-post - Manchester News, 8th September 2004
TALKING lamp-posts are the latest weapon in the war on car thieves.
Black boxes fixed to the posts will blurt out messages warning motorists to make sure they have locked their vehicles and not left valuables on display.
The scheme, the first in the north west, is being piloted from today in the Trinity area of Salford. Each of the five devices has a motion sensor which triggers off a loud voice when people walk past.
The signs can also be programmed to give out messages at intervals during peak times of the day.
Deborah Keelan, crime reduction advisor for Greater Manchester Police, said: "Although most people are generally security conscious when it comes to their vehicles we have all been distracted some time and forgotten to lock them, switch the alarm on, or hide valuables from preying eyes.
"By reminding people to be more security conscious we hope these talking signs will help reduce vehicle crime."
The devices can be moved around the city and give messages to combat different types of crime.
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A crime awareness sign that talks to you! - East Riding of Yorkshire Council, 2004
Using money made available by the governments `Building Safer Communities Fund`, East Riding Safe Communities team have sought out a new and innovative way to get the message out to motorists - a box that talks to you! The Talking sign is located in car parks and is activated on a sensor, and delivers a spoken police warning message to motorists to remind them not to leave valuables on display in their vehicle.
The signs will be appearing in East Riding of Yorkshire Council car parks over the forthcoming weeks.
Drivers are advised that vehicles are most likely to be broken into whilst parked on the street and not in car parks.
The new signs will be launched on Wednesday 16th June in Trinity Lane Car Park, Beverley.
"It is a fact that the majority of the crimes reported are committed because the vehicle in question has presented an easy opportunity to a criminal, and the crime could very easily have been prevented through some simple steps.
The new Talking Signs are an excellent innovative idea which should grab the attention of potential victims, with possibly other things on their mind when parking their vehicles, and give them a timely reminder to take the few simple steps required to prevent a crime." Detective Inspector Darling of Beverley Police station.
"The Council is gradually improving car parks across the East Riding to offer a more pleasant and secure service to all residents and visitors. This latest development, which will help remind motorists what they can do to help themselves avoid becoming a victim of crime, is one way of helping our customers to ensure that their use of the car park is a good experience and at the same time increasing their own awareness of the ways in which they can keep their property safe."
Huw Roberts, Director of Operational Services, East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
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Crime Prevention Initiative Is First For Leicestershire - North West Leicestershire District Council, 3rd February 2005
A CRIME-busting initiative is to be launched on car parks throughout North West Leicestershire.
The District Council, Leicestershire Police and the Partnership in Safer Communities have teamed up to attract £9,000 worth of Home Office funding to purchase 30 ‘Talking Signs’.
The devices, which automatically offer crime prevention advice when someone is within a six-metre radius, will be placed on District Council-owned car parks and are being offered to other places including local supermarkets.
Councillor Derek Howe, Chairman of the Partnership in Safer Communities, said: "We are committed to reducing crime and the fear of crime. The reduction of vehicle crime is one of our top priorities. The Talking Signs offer a number of pre-recorded messages, for example to remind users of the need to make sure they have locked their car and removed valuables from display. We can also use the Talking Signs to record our own messages if we have any other issues we want to make the public aware of."
PC Michael Kaiser, Crime Reduction Officer for North Area Police, added: "These units will complement the existing signs located throughout the district at public car parks, hotels, pubs and leisure centres. Talking Signs have been used successfully in other areas of the country, for example in London where the Metropolitan Police use them to offer information about potential street robbers. However, this is the first time Talking Signs have been used in Leicestershire and I believe they will help us to reduce vehicle crime in the district."
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Keeping crime free is the word on the streets of Bradford as ‘talking signs’ strike a chord with shoppers. - West Yorkshire Police, 16th February 2005
In a first for Bradford, Bradford South Police have introduced the signs at strategic points throughout the city centre. They relay messages such as: “Do not leave valuables in your car.” And they can even be used to give out appeals for witnesses to specific crimes.
Det Chief Insp Roger Gasson said: “The signs are an excellent way of getting crime prevention messages across at the right time. If you’ve just parked up your car, for example, the signs give a timely reminder to make sure you haven’t left any property on view.
“The signs are changeable, so if there is a specific type of crime occurring in a particular area, such as mobile phone theft, we can re-record the message to cover that. We will also be using them to appeal for information about specific incidents.
“The use of the signs is the latest in a series of crime-busting initiatives which is putting offenders on the back foot and seeing priority crime such as robbery, burglary and car crime, falling rapidly in the division, making it a much safer and pleasant place to live and visit.
They have been installed as part of West Yorkshire Police's massive 'Steer Clear' campaign which is being run by the Target intiative. It kicked off on Monday and will tackle vehicle crime across the county.
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CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FOR NORTHAMPTON CAR PARK USERS
The ‘Talking Signs’ operating in Northampton town centre’s car parks are getting a Christmas message.
With the festive shopping season about to get into full swing, the community safety team in Northampton has taken the opportunity to target motorists with seasonal advice.
Incident Resolution Team driver PC Ian Ross voices up the recorded message and the initiative is tying in with Operation Trojan, the annual Christmas crime crackdown in the town centre.
Valerie Ross, community safety officer for Northamptonshire Police, said: “Christmas obviously brings many more people into the town centre than usual and the car parks are always extremely busy.
“We look at every opportunity to get our community safety messages across and motorists can do a lot to help themselves keep car criminals, opportunist or otherwise, at bay.
“With shoppers transporting lots of bags and packages, the temptation is to store them in their vehicle.
“We would ask them to never leave anything on display as even the most ridiculous of items can encourage a break in.
“Don’t leave items in the boot of your vehicle while it is unattended either as those looking to commit crime will regard this as easy pickings.”
She added that drivers of older vehicles, which are often younger drivers starting out as motorists, were particularly vulnerable to car thieves.
“Older cars do not benefit from the increased security modifications that now apply to the newer models.
“As a consequence they are more readily broken into although we can supply disc locks, which fit over steering wheels, at a cost of £35.
“Parents and grandparents may like to think of purchasing one of these as a worthwhile gift for any of their children or grandchildren who drive an old car.”
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