Operation Gingerbread

Organisation: North Wales Police.
Category: Anti-social behaviour, criminal damage.
Date submitted: 8 December 2006.

What was the problem?

Every school holiday local youths would cause a nuisance on school premises, drinking, being abusive and disturbing those who live near to the schools, as well as causing damage to school property. The damage was often caused by fires with the potential to develop into incidents of major arson. 

What actions were taken?

Operation Gingerbread was set up as a multi agency organised approach to tackling these problems. North Wales Fire Service visited schools to provide crime prevention surveys and train caretakers in fire prevention and safety. The school caretakers worked alongside the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, police Community Beat Managers, School Liaison Officers and Neighbourhood Wardens in providing high visibility patrols in all schools, responding to incidents quickly, dealing with offenders effectively and repairing any damage caused promptly.

What was the outcome?

Although greater publicity and awareness of police messages in relation to suspicious persons on school premises may have led to an increase in reported incidents, compared to the previous year a 15% reduction in calls was achieved, with a 30% reduction in the number of crimes at school premises during the review period. The greatest success being experienced in North Flintshire where there was a 67% reduction in crime in schools.

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

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service funded the caretaker training course including design and delivery, other costs were met from existing partners' resources.

Contact details for further information

Name: Siobhan Edwards PS1786.
Tel: 07922 020118.
E-mail: siobham.edwards@nthwales.pnn.police.uk.