This year’s National Identity Fraud Prevention Week takes place between 16th and 22nd October 2006. 

With information available on what the public can do to protect themselves and fight identity fraud.

This awareness drive has been put in place by a group of public and private sector partners, including the Metropolitan Police (and other regional police forces), Crimestoppers, The Identity and Passport Service, CIFAS - The UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, Fellowes, the Federation of Small Businesses, Callcredit, Equifax and Experian.

As part of the national drive to make the public more aware of the dangers of identity fraud, and the simple steps they can take to protect themselves, the campaign has set up a dedicated website - with a test to highlight ‘how at risk you are’

www.stop-idfraud.co.uk

There is also a free-phone number - 00800 1810 1810 - that members of the public can call to receive a free guide entitled, Protecting Your Identity, with additional information on the MPS website  

www.met.police.uk/fraudalert

Westminster Police Security Desk

Westminster police working in partnership with the Howard de Walden Estateand CivicWatch, have today launched a new SmartWater scheme.

Approximately 1,000 SmartWater kits are being distributed to Howard de Walden residents and occupiers as part of the initiative, with officers from Marylebone Police visiting premises, issuing the kits and giving advice on

application techniques.

SmartWater is easily applied to valuable items, such as jewellery andelectrical equipment, marking the object with a unique forensic code. Warning labels will be displayed on windows and doors to warn criminals that the property is protected.

The outer perimeter of the Howard de Walden Estate in Marylebone will have permanent signs affixed to prominent lamp posts to warn people they are entering a SmartWater area.

At the time of the launch, Marylebone Police will be sending an 'Early Christmas Card' to those people convicted, or suspected of committing property crime within the area. This will highlight the fact that SmartWater

is here and "suggests" they may wish to desist from their activities, whilst detailing what the likely outcome will be if they don't.

SmartWater can be detected months after a person has come into contact with it by using an ultra-violet scanner.

Inspector Gary Wilson, said: "The Howard de Walden Estate in Marylebone is a very safe area for the residents and business community to live and work in. The intention of this initiative is to continue the downward trend of crime within the Marylebone area. We have been very successful over previous years and this project will ensure we continue that. SmartWater is forcing criminals to think twice before committing property crime, as the risk of getting caught is too high. Smartwater has a 100% conviction rate and puts the fear back on them. This project has come to fruition due to the help and support of the Howard de Walden Estate."

Toby Shannon, the Howard de Walden Estate Chief Executive, said: "Marylebone Police have been extremely supportive of various events such as the Summer Fayre held on the Estate. Our aim is to maintain and improve the way of life in the Marylebone area, and we are delighted to support this further initiative which helps to provide a continuing safe environment for our residents."

Bayswater CivicWatch and Safer Neighbourhoods Team

Two Safer Neighbourhoods Teams, with responsibility for The Strand & Whitehall, and Covent Garden will be officially launched at St Paul's Church, Covent Garden at 1000 on 22/09/06.

The Strand & Whitehall Team comprises of one sergeant, four constables and five police community support officers. The Team is based at Charing Cross Police Station. The officers will deliver visible policing in Central London, whilst providing reassurance to the thousands of tourists who flock to iconic landmarks such as Westminster Abbey.

The Covent Garden Team, which is responsible for policing one of the world's most famous markets, consists of one sergeant, two constables and three police community support officers.

Superintendent Peter Terry said: "Working together with our local partners, we continue to see a reduction in crime in Westminster. Safer Neighbourhoods Teams play a key role in maintaining this success. The Teams provide visible reassurance to the diverse community of businesses and tourists, thus enhancing the area as a whole."

Safer Neighbourhoods policing was launched by the MPS in April 2004. SN Teams aim to supply local solutions for local problems so Londoners can feel safe when going about their day-to-day business. SN Teams are dedicated to the community and are additional to other policing teams and units in London.

to see more information about your local team or contact tham please use the following link and email address

Westminster Safer Neighbourhood Teams

Covent Garden SNT email address - CoventGarden.snt@met.police.uk

Strand & Whitehall SNT email address - Strand.Whitehall.snt@met.police.uk

Information sent from Charing Cross Police

help us to help you!

Pimlico Residents please be aware that there has been a recent spate of residential burglaries. The target is basement and ground floor flats. In a number of instances entry has been gained by smashing a glass panel from a window or door.

Please be extra vigilant during the day and ensure that you use your existing security effectively. Ensure windows are shut and locked and that your door locks are both engaged. Your front door should have at least a five lever mortice lock fitted, nearly all insurance companies insist this as a minimum requirement. Ideally you should have an automatic cyclinder deadlatch 1/3rd of the way down from the top of your door and the 5 lever mortice 1/3rd up from the bottom of the door.

If you require informative literature or would like advice from your local crime prevention officer please contact 020 7321 6814 or e-mail ab_cpo@met.police.uk

Belgravia Crime Prevention Officers.

Westminster Police have launched a NEW 'Reduce Business Crime' Leaflet, Attached is a printable PDF version. Please print a copy and fill it out, it may help to identify if you have any weaknesses in your current business security measures.

If you require any further advise please contact your local crime prevention officer, details are on the last page of the leaflet.

Westminster Police Security Desk

Reduce Business Crime Leaflet

Anti-Terrorism Operation

The recent anti-terrorist arrests resulted from an intelligence led operation lasting a number of months. The aim of the plot was to blow up aircraft travelling from the UK to the USA in mid-flight, resulting in an enormous number of casualties. This was to be achieved by detonating explosives carried in hand luggage.

The police operation has been highly successful and has resulted in over 20 arrests. The arrests have taken place in the Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge, Hackney, Newham and Waltham Forest, and outside London in Thames Valley and Birmingham.

Steps have been taken at an early stage to consult and inform communities most affected by the police operation. This is now an ongoing process to ensure communities and community leaders are fully aware of police activities. The community activity will focus on a London-wide Community Consultative Forum that will take place on 11^th August.

The police operation was carried out with public safety at the forefront and that will continue to be the case. In Westminster, additional uniformed patrols will be seen as part of the overall response to the terrorist threat.

We ask people in Westminster to remain calm, patient and vigilant and report anything suspicious.

The Anti-Terrorist hotline can be called on 0800 789321.

The Community hotline can be called on 0800 028 2390.

Further information regarding press releases can be obtained from the police uk website at www.police.uk or the MPS website at www.met.police.uk.  

Nick Wood

Westminster Police Security Desk

THE FOLLOWING IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO DAC PETER CLARKE, HEAD OF THE ANTI-TERRORIST BRANCH.

"I would like to give you some details about the counter terrorist operation, which took place overnight. I shall focus purely on the criminal investigation. As always, I must preface my remarks with a request for restraint - and by that I mean restraint in the reporting of events so far as they relate to those who have been arrested. We must all, please, be careful to say or do nothing that might prejudice the right of any individual to a fair trial.

The investigation has focused on intelligence, which suggested that a plot was in existence to blow up transatlantic passenger aircraft, in flight. The intelligence suggested that this was to be achieved by means of concealed explosive devices smuggled onto the aircraft in hand baggage. The intelligence suggested that the devices were to be constructed in the United Kingdom, and taken through British airports. The number, destination and timing of the flights that might be attacked remain the subject of investigation.

This has been, and continues to be, a fast moving investigation.

Today marks the culmination of one phase of what is a major operation that has already lasted several months, and will undoubtedly last long into the future.

During the investigation an unprecedented level of surveillance has been undertaken and our objective is to gather intelligence and evidence in support of the investigation. We have been looking at meetings, movements, travel, spending and the aspirations of a large group of people. This has involved close co-operation, not only between agencies and police forces in the United Kingdom, but also internationally. As is so often the case in these investigations, the alleged plot has global dimensions.

The investigation reached a critical point last night when the decision was made to take urgent action in order to disrupt what we believe was being planned. As always in these cases, the safety of the public was our overriding concern.

Throughout the night a significant number of arrests were made. All the arrests were made on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of Acts of terrorism under the Terrorism Act 2000.

The people arrested remain in custody in London where officers will pursue the investigation from the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist branch.

Searches are also underway at a number of business and residential premises in London and elsewhere. We anticipate that these will take some time to complete.

I am sure you will understand and realise that this is a very early stage in what will be a meticulous, painstaking criminal investigation. We will now be embarking on the next stage of the investigation, an investigation that will take us wherever the evidence leads. As and when I am able to do so, I will give out information on the progress of the investigation. But please be aware that we will only release specific information when we are sure it is correct. At this very early stage it is not appropriate for me to answer questions. I will give you further information only when I am able and it is appropriate to do so. At this point I must focus on the criminal investigation and any subsequent legal process, and refrain from speculation."

Statement by Deputy Commissioner, Paul Stephenson at 09.50 outside New Scotland Yard

"We are confident that we have disrupted a plan by terrorists to cause untold death and destruction and commit mass murder.

The Commissioner has been fully briefed and he is at NSY today. He and I want to pay tribute to officers from the Met's Anti-Terrorist Branch and the security services for the work they have undertaken to disrupt these activities.

We believe that the terrorists' aim was to smuggle explosives onto airplanes in hand luggage and to detonate these in flight.

We also believe that the intended targets were flights from the UK to the USA.

Overnight we have arrested 21people. The majority of those arrests have been in London but we have also made arrests in Thames Valley and Birmingham. We are currently searching a number of addresses. We are grateful to our colleagues in other force areas for their support. DAC Peter Clarke Head of the Anti-Terrorist Branch will give further details about this part of the operation later this morning.

As the operation got underway we spoke to community leaders to make them aware that a major anti-terrorist operation was taking place but without giving specific details about locations. This extensive dialogue will continue throughout the operation.

We would like to reassure the public that this operation was carried out with public safety upper most in our minds. This is a major operation, which will inevitably be lengthy and complex. The UK is now at the highest possible level of alert. We will consider the threat in its wider sense and take whatever action is necessary to protect people in London and throughout the Country.

Measures have already been put in place to restrict hand luggage taken onto aircraft. This will inevitably cause significant delay and we ask people to remain calm, patient and vigilant at this very difficult time.

Put simply this was a plot to commit mass murder on an unimaginable scale."

A major terrorist plot to allegedly blow up aircraft in mid-flight has been disrupted in a joint pre-planned intelligence-led operation by the Met's Anti-terrorist Branch and Security Service.

It is believed that the aim was to detonate explosive devices smuggled on board the aircraft in hand luggage.

It is also believed that the attacks would have been particularly targeted at flights from the UK to the USA.

Overnight police have arrested a number of people in London. These arrests are the culmination of a major covert counter-terrorist operation lasting several months.

We would like to reassure the public that this operation was carried out with public safety uppermost in our minds. This is a major operation which inevitably will be lengthy and complex.

Home Secretary John Reid said:

"Overnight the police, with the full knowledge of Ministers, have carried out a major counter-terrorism operation to disrupt what we believe to be a major threat to the UK and international partners.

The police, acting with the Security Service MI5, are investigating an alleged plot to bring down a number of aircraft through mid-flight explosions, causing a considerable loss of life.The police believe the alleged plot was a very significant one indeed.

At 2am this morning the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre raised the UK threat state to its highest level - 'Critical'. This is now being publicly announced as I promised to Parliament last month. This is a precautionary measure. We are doing everything possible to disrupt any further terrorist activity.

This will mean major disruption at all UK airports from today. But as far as is possible we want people to go about their business as normal."

For information on travel please visit the Department for Transport Internet site.

Church Street Safer Neighbourhoods Team launch PubWatch initiative.

Local licensees have joined forces with the Church Street SN Team to target unsocial behaviour in the St Johns Wood area.

PubWatch is a voluntary scheme that invites publicans to liaise with each other should they encounter any problems with their clientele.  This may include the use of counterfeit banknotes, criminal damage or drunken behaviour. 

Each pub is provided with a record of those involved in the initiative, and should an incident arise, a member of staff will contact the next pub on the list, using a cascade management system. 

Licensees are encouraged to contact the Safer Neighbourhoods Team should they encounter any difficulties, and officers will conduct follow-up visits to any premises that have suffered from crime.  Members of the scheme are also offered advice regarding the appropriate action to take if an incident persists or escalates. 

Chief Inspector Bernie Gravett said:  “While there is very little crime and disorder in pubs in the area, this initiative is specifically aimed at targeting those few individuals who choose to act in an anti-social manner. By working together with licensees in the Church Street area, we hope to improve the atmosphere for both staff and the local community. PubWatch is one aspect of our Safer Neighbourhoods agenda to build relationships with stakeholder groups and the community.”

Those pubs involved in the scheme are:

Brazen Head, 69 Lisson Street
The Constitution, 91 Bell Street
The Globe, 47 Lisson Grove
The Green Man, 308 Edgware Road
Lord High Admiral, 95 Church Street
Marquis of Anglesey, 77 Ashmill Street
Portman Arms, 422 Edgware Road
The Perseverance, 11, Shroton St
The Traders Inn, 52 Church Street

Westminster Police Security Desk

Message from the ‘West End Central Police Station - Crime Prevention Officers’

Unfortunately businesses in Westminster, the City of London and the Home Counties and their associated warehouse’s/suppliers, relating particularly to the jewellery sector, are being targeted by a very professional team of ‘Scammers’. Significant activity within the last few days has proven successful.

Purporting to be courier and/or shipping companies, they have been telephoning businesses asking if they have any packages that require collecting.

Please disseminate this information to your business colleagues who may not benefit from using Communitysafe'. 

The march will assemble at 1200hrs in Whitehall Place and the following route will then be taken:

Whitehall (South) > U turn at the Cenotaph > Whitehall (North) > Trafalgar Square > Cockspur street > Pall Mall > Piccadilly > Berkeley Street > Davies Street > Mount Row > Carlos Place > Grosvenor Square > Upper Grosvenor Street > Park Lane > Hyde Park Corner > Queen Elizabeth Gate > Hyde Park.

Road Closures:

Parliament Street, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Cockspur Street, Pall Mall, St James\'s Street, Piccadilly, Haymarket, Berkeley Street, Berkeley Square, Carlos Place, Grosvenor Square, Upper Grosvenor Street, Park Lane, will be closed along with all approaches to facililate the march.

Please visit the following web site for more info on the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. http://www.palestinecampaign.org/default.asp

Westminster Police Security Desk

Please close and lock all windows & doors when leaving a building and if you sleep with your window open please be aware of the potential risks and take appropriate precautions to safeguard yourselves.

Westminster Police Security Desk

Dear All

This email is to advise you regarding the receipt of blocked messages from CommunitySafe.

Last week several registered police users on the system were unable to receive an email about events in Leicester Square with regards to crowd problems, at the film premiere of The Pirates of the Caribbean.

They were having the contents of the messages blocked, because I had used words implying you should send the message to other friends and work colleagues to warn them about the problems. The MPS firewall interrupted this as an attempt to send a spam email and automatically blocked the content.

We overcame this matter by contacting our IT team and ensuring that all emails sent from CommunitySafe are identified as a trusted source email, therefore clearing any firewall limitations that the IT software has imposed.

If you are experiencing any such difficulties, it maybe worth contacting your IT administrators and asking if they can arrange for your software to be so configured.

Thus enabling all Communitysafe emails to arrive quickly and complete in your email account for any necessary actioning.

Westminster Police Security Desk

www.immobilise.com is a free Home Office endorsed National web based online facility that allows owners of Mobile Phones and other property such as laptops, iPODS, MP3 players and hand held computers, to register their contact details and the intrinsic identifiers of the item, such as make model serial or mobile phone IMEI number.

This national database allows Police to instantly ascertain whether an individual is in possession of your lost or stolen equipment.

Housed on physically secure servers at BT Ignite in Cardiff information is protected using 128-bit encryption, equivalent to that used for most on line banking transactions. The service is free and data is not shared with third parties. Corporate and private users both welcome.

There are currently 21 million items registered on the database, and this number is growing daily. Registration is quick, easy and free. Visit www.immobilise.com  and follow the simple instructions.

Westminster Police Security Desk

• The overall threat to the UK from International Terrorism remains high
  
• London remains a target for a terrorist attack in the UK
  

London will be policed maintaining a ‘business as normal’ approach. A full policing operation is in place during the anniversary period. You may notice an increase in police numbers around the travel network, this not due to a perceived increase in threat they are their solely to reassurance our travelling community.

Community tensions and concerns will be monitored throughout all London boroughs in all communities. The Diversity and Citizen Focus Directorate will closely monitor all returns and seek to address any issues raised.
 
The Metropolitan Police Service recognise that community intelligence is vital in the fight against the terrorist threat.  We want to encourage the public to come forward with any information about suspected terrorist-related activity and to contact the confidential MPS Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.
 
Crime or information can also be reported online through www.police.uk or www.met.police.uk or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
 
The MPS also set up an advice line to offer advice and reassurance, particularly to those communities who feel vulnerable as a result of last year’s terrorist attacks. The ‘Communities Together’ Help and Advice Line is a 24-hour freephone number 0800 028 2390.

Planned Events taking place in Central London

Westminster Police Security Desk 

Dear All,

The film premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean is taking place in Leicester Square – TONIGHT

Crowds have been building since 9am this morning, water and first aid has had to be administered to sections of the crowd already.

A one-way crowd filtration system has been put in outside the Hampshire Hotel on the south side of the square, allowing pedestrian movement from East to West only.

Please advise all friends and staff who were intending on going to this event, to ensure they have plenty of drink (water especially) and that the area is already very congested so viewing will be limited.

www.bikeoff.org.uk   www.LCC.org.uk   www.nationalcyclingstrategy.org.uk