From My Bottom Step

A London Police Service media release:

The London Police Auxiliary officers are made up of men and women who dedicate considerable time to volunteering to promote community related and crime prevention initiatives. On Tuesday November 3, 2009 they will be actively implementing crime prevention programs, such as the ones listed here. Also, a new group of recruits has completed their classroom training and will be writing their final exam during the evening hours. The 16 new recruits will then begin street patrol training. The addition of these new recruits will bring theme entire group to a full complement of 50 Auxiliary Officers.

The following are the three major programs delivered by the Auxiliary officers, in addition to tours, traffic control, attendance at community events and ride-along with patrol officers:

A.T.R.I.P.

A.T.R.I.P. (Auto Theft Reduction Initiatives Program) is a new initiative for the London Police Service. Through a unique combination of public education, enforcement and community partnerships, A.T.R.I.P. is designed to create a significant and sustainable reduction in the rate of automobile theft in the City of London.

Officers from the volunteer Auxiliary Police Section distribute information about preventing automobile theft to citizens who are visiting areas of the City that have suffered from a high incidence of automobile theft. Two specially marked vehicles have been developed for use with A.T.R.I.P. to assist in distributing the educational information to the public.

Project Safeguard

The object of Project Safeguard is to have specially trained volunteers from the Auxiliary Police Section conduct home security audits on residences in neighbourhoods where residential break and enters have been occurring. The home security audit process will educate the home owner on ways to “target harden” their home against the occurrence of a residential break and enter.

Project Speedwatch

One of the most frequent complaints received is the need to address speeding along residential streets. To address this issue the London Police Service, in partnership with the London Safe Communities Organization, purchased a radar speed display trailer.

“Speedwatch” is a traffic calming initiative for the London Police Service. The Speedwatch radar trailer is deployed by officers from the Auxiliary Police Section in various areas of the City where chronic speeding violations have been reported. Speedwatch is primarily a public education program, as the Speedwatch sign informs the motoring public of both their current speed and the posted speed limit.

Lower speeds result in fewer, and less severe collisions, a safer environment for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

Appended 2009/11/04 @ 02:00 p.m:

In response to my inquiry, LPS tells me that the “purchased a radar speed display trailer” refers to the single speed display trailer that they have and which was acquired a number of years ago. In their words, “This is the existing trailer. There have been no new expenditures.”