NEW VEHICLE STEPS UP FIGHT AGAINST CRIME
June 30 2006
A new crime fighting vehicle is being launched in Gloucester this weekend, and will give officers the ability to deal with more low-level crime than ever before.
A special van, funded by the Gloucester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP), will be out on the streets to tackle things like drunken behaviour and low-level violence.
The specially designed Penalty Notice Vehicle will be patrolling the city and will be able to help officers issue on the spot fines, known as Penalty Notices, for offences such as urinating in the street.
Officers have been issuing penalty notices on the streets since they were introduced in April 2004, but the new van is equipped with finger printing equipment and a camera, and means officers wanting to issue a fine can leave offenders in the van and then immediately get back to their patrols.
If offenders refuse to accept the fine the van will be able to take them straight to custody, and means patrolling officers will not have to wait for another suitable vehicle to arrive or spend valuable time processing offenders in the cells.
"Penalty notices are a speedy and effective alternative means of dealing with low-level, anti-social and nuisance offending, which does not require a court hearing," said Inspector Chris Thorley who has been responsible for introducing the vehicle.
"They increase the amount of time officers spend on the street dealing with more serious crime and free the courts to deal with more serious offending.
"This new vehicle will be an addition to our weekend Street Safe patrols and will mean officers will be able to spend more time on the streets ensuring Gloucester is a safe place to be.
"We are committed to tackling low level crime that can blight the lives of residents and visitors to the city, and people should know that if they do the crime they will have to pay the fine."
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