Lincolnshire Police have launched an initiative last week asking local communities to help prevent the ongoing problem of lead being stolen from church roofs. Since January this year around 50 Lincolnshire churches have been targeted - some of our rural villages are next to or within a very short drive of the Lincolnshire border so I believe this message is also very relevant for our rural Peterborough churches.

The strongest part of NHW in Peterborough is the amount of schemes in rural areas - so I am asking that you help by taking an active interest in suspicious activity in your village. Please report all suspicious activity near churches, noting down detailed descriptions and people and cars.

I work closely with all our churches to help improve security and come up with best forward for buildings which are often listed and have tight building restrictions on them.

Please be aware that work is being done on a national level to tighten up the regulation of the scrap metal industry and put pressure on dealers to keep better records and move away from a cash-in-hand culture. In the meantime it is the local eyes and ears in a community who can really help and support the police - stealing a large amount of lead takes time and a reasonably large vehicle to transport it. It is not a five minute job.

If any parish church wardens need advice or would welcome a crime prevention visit please contact me.

Carol Aston
Crime Reduction Officer
Safer Peterborough Team
Cambridgeshire Police