Police launch distribution of 1,000 family crime reduction guides

Chief Constable Peter Fahy, William Roache and the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Edith Conn launch the book giveaway on Coronation Street.

As part of the Government's "Not in My Neighbourhood Week" (13 to 17 October) the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Peter Fahy has launched a campaign to circulate 1,000 copies of the family crime reduction guide "How to Avoid Becoming a Target for Crime" throughout Greater Manchester.

To help in the fight against crime, the Greater Manchester High Sheriff's Police Trust and Greater Manchester Police produced a comprehensive family crime reduction guide. The illustrated guide covers all aspects of crime including personal safety, burglary prevention and vehicle crime. Specific information for vulnerable groups such as students and older people has also been included.

The book is normally sold by the Greater Manchester High Sheriff's Police Trust and has been purchased by organisations that have provided them for their staff or tenants. From the profit of these sales 10,000 free copies have already been distributed to vulnerable people.

This event sees the release of 1,000 free copies of the guide for general circulation.

This will be achieved by Police Community Support Officers and Neighbourhood Police Officers placing the specially branded books in public places. The intention is that members of the public read the book and then pass it on, by leaving it in another public place, so that others also have an opportunity to read it.

Mr Fahy was joined at the launch by William Roache MBE and the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester.

William Roache MBE, better known as Coronation Street's Ken Barlow, launched the initiative yesterday (Monday 13 October) by placing a book in Coronation Street.

Each book will bear a label on the front that will hopefully attract attention encouraging the 'finder' to pick up the book. The book will also bear instructions inside encouraging the finder to take the book home to read and then replace somewhere else.

The Chief Constable said: “We are placing the books into public places so that more people can benefit - not just those who can afford to buy a copy. The profit from the books we have already sold has allowed us to try this novel approach.

He added: "People who may not normally visit a public library or police station will hopefully discover the book in a public place, like a doctor's or dentist's surgery. They can take it home if they wish to read it properly, however they are then encouraged to leave it somewhere else where someone will pick it up and also benefit."