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Car insurance customers told about crime-prevention victory

29/05/07

Car insurance customers in the north of England may be interested to hear that a local police officer is claiming victory in his efforts to cut vehicle crime.

Catholic Lonning, a lane in Carlisle, has been the site of 34 car break-ins during the past 24 months, according to local newspaper News & Star.

It is thought the area had proved particularly popular among thieves due to the fact that it was set back from the main road, meaning criminal acts were less likely to be spotted there.

However, a joint operation between Cumbria police and the Environment Agency has seen some radical changes brought in, car insurance policyholders may be relieved to here.

More specifically, the initiative has seen the local area cleaned up and cars prevented from accessing the lane.

Police officers are now claiming that there have not been any reports of car crime incidents since the change.

Commenting on the transformation, Judy Prest, portfolio holder for sustainable communities at Carlisle city council, said that it was part of a concerted push towards making Carlisle "a cleaner, greener and safer place".

Meanwhile, Cumbria police chief superintendent Andy Davidson, hailed the achievement.

"This initiative has gone a long way towards addressing local people's concerns and reducing the fear of crime, turning the area round from a crime hotspot to an area where there is no crime," he said.

If crime levels have fallen as a result of the operation, this could potentially have a knock-on effect upon Carlisle's car insurance premiums.

Car insurance quotes typically vary according to fluctuations in local vehicle crime rates.