Crime patrols for estates

Press, 24 June 1985, Page 24

Crime patrols for estates

NZPA London A London council has hired a private security firm to provide crime patrols to quell trouble on its housing estates. Bromley Council’s sixmonth pilot scheme, costing £13,000 ($36,400) and aimed at protecting the elderly, is the first experiment of its kind by a local authority in Britain. According to the council the security patrols on housing estates have been called in to stem the rising tide of vandalism, mugging, housebreaking, drug-taking and glue-sniffing.

“With the level of harassment and vandalism we realise tenants need more than the police can provide

for a quieter and- peaceful environment,” a council spokesman said. Uniformed security men will patrol four estates in Bromley from early evening to midnight. The scheme, which was announced soon after widespread publicity over the Metropolitan police lacking funds to clamp down on increasing crime in the capital, coincides with the start of the (northern) school holidays. Tenants will be asked for their views. An east London estate which recently reported 80 per cent of its tenants were afraid to go out at night, hopes to get a similar council scheme.