§ Mr. Iain Millsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about which police forces encourage post code marking of articles as an aid to prevent theft; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Giles ShawDetails of all crime prevention implemented by police forces in England and Wales are not held centrally. We know, however, that many forces have introduced property marking schemes often as part of a neighbourhood watch package. In June 1984 Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary issued guidelines on property marking to all chief officers of police in England and Wales as an aid to forces about to launch schemes. The guidelines referred to the results of516W a property marking project in South Wales launched in November 1983 and carried out by the Home Office crime prevention unit in conjunction with South Wales constabulary. They showed a 40 per cent. reduction in the number of domestic burglaries in the project area during the one-year evaluation period. This successful project continues.