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Brackla and Litchard Industrial Estate Crime Reduction Project

Reducing crime on a large industrial estate.

Organisation: Bridgend Division South Wales Police
Category: Theft, damage, vehicle crime
Date submitted: July 2006

What was the problem?

Brackla and Litchard Industrial Estate is one of the largest estates in Bridgend and occupies roughly 65 hectares. The estate has 80 companies with a range of industrial uses from office and light industrial through to general manufacturing and warehousing. In 2001 it was identified as a priority for improvement as the estate was very run down and businesses suffered from the negative image and high crime rates.

What actions were taken?

The project coordinator began working closely with the local police crime prevention and Architectural Liaison Officer and

  • Established a crime forum for business to talk about specific crime related problems with the project coordinator and Police Officers.
  • Offered companies crime prevention audits of their premises to identify possible weaknesses.
  • Undertook an analysis of the crime statistics on the estate to look at where criminals were entering and leaving the estate and identified the more vulnerable areas.

The results of this work resulted in identification of funding to pay for capital works. 270m of 2.7meter high security fence was erected to prevent access from waste ground to the rear of the business units. A statement entrance was installed providing a psychological barrier. General clean up of fly tipping across the estate took place and seventeen companies received WDA grants to upgrade their premises which ‘designed out’ crime.

What was the outcome?

  • Overall thefts declined by 28.5%
  • The number of criminal damage incidents declined by an overall of 40%
  • Vehicle crime has seen an overall decline of 50%

If actions were funded, how much was contributed and from what source?

A substantial investment was made by the Welsh Development Agency in developing the site. Investment in crime reduction measures were funded in tandem with environmental concerns.

Contact details for further information

Name: Gwyn Batten
Organisation: Bridgend BCU, South Wales Police Business Environmental Co-ordinator
Tel: (01656) 679542
E-mail: gwyn.batten@south-wales.pnn.police.uk