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| Minister holds 'burglary summit' | Minister holds 'burglary summit' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The home secretary is holding a "burglary summit" for England and Wales later amid fears that attacks on homes will rise because of the recession. | |
| Jacqui Smith is meeting representatives from the police, insurance firms, DIY stores and charities like Age Concern to examine ways of improving security. | Jacqui Smith is meeting representatives from the police, insurance firms, DIY stores and charities like Age Concern to examine ways of improving security. |
| She is also launching a website which will allow people to assess how well their house is protected. | She is also launching a website which will allow people to assess how well their house is protected. |
| Home burglaries in England and Wales started to rise at the end of 2008. | Home burglaries in England and Wales started to rise at the end of 2008. |
| Figures show they increased by 4% between July and September, compared with the similar period in 2007. | Figures show they increased by 4% between July and September, compared with the similar period in 2007. |
| There were 69,000 break-ins at homes in England and Wales during the three-month period - the first rise in seven years. | There were 69,000 break-ins at homes in England and Wales during the three-month period - the first rise in seven years. |
| Burglaries of commercial premises were also up. | Burglaries of commercial premises were also up. |
| Announcing the summit, which will be held in central London, last month, Ms Smith said the government was "determined to stay on the front foot in keeping crime down". | Announcing the summit, which will be held in central London, last month, Ms Smith said the government was "determined to stay on the front foot in keeping crime down". |
| "There will be a small minority of criminals who think they can take advantage in tough times. Let me tell them now, they can't and they won't," she said. | "There will be a small minority of criminals who think they can take advantage in tough times. Let me tell them now, they can't and they won't," she said. |
| Security fund | Security fund |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said that over the last 30 years, burglary rates appeared to have peaked at times of economic hardship, like the mid-1980s and the early 1990s. | BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said that over the last 30 years, burglary rates appeared to have peaked at times of economic hardship, like the mid-1980s and the early 1990s. |
| But the home secretary has insisted an increase is not inevitable and everything possible will be done to prevent it.Ms Smith wants to stop criminals taking advantage of tough times | But the home secretary has insisted an increase is not inevitable and everything possible will be done to prevent it.Ms Smith wants to stop criminals taking advantage of tough times |
| The summit, which will also involve Neighbourhood Watch representatives, aims to work out ways of limiting opportunities for burglars and coincides with the launch of a £1.8 million prevention campaign. | The summit, which will also involve Neighbourhood Watch representatives, aims to work out ways of limiting opportunities for burglars and coincides with the launch of a £1.8 million prevention campaign. |
| It will be backed by a special fund to help people on low incomes improve their security. | It will be backed by a special fund to help people on low incomes improve their security. |
| A new website will also offer people the chance to take a three-minute test about their home security. | A new website will also offer people the chance to take a three-minute test about their home security. |
| At the end they will be given a percentage score for their current level of protection and some advice on how to increase it. | At the end they will be given a percentage score for their current level of protection and some advice on how to increase it. |
| The summit comes as police are warning householders to beware of what they believe is the growing problem of "car key burglary", in which a person's car keys are stolen from their home. | The summit comes as police are warning householders to beware of what they believe is the growing problem of "car key burglary", in which a person's car keys are stolen from their home. |
| Because of improved car security, many vehicles cannot now be stolen without the keys and the Association of Chief Police Officers says this kind of targeted theft now accounts for 8% of all break-ins. | Because of improved car security, many vehicles cannot now be stolen without the keys and the Association of Chief Police Officers says this kind of targeted theft now accounts for 8% of all break-ins. |
| Last year, a leaked memo from Ms Smith to Gordon Brown warned of a likely increase in "acquisitive" crimes, including burglary, as a result of the economic downturn. | Last year, a leaked memo from Ms Smith to Gordon Brown warned of a likely increase in "acquisitive" crimes, including burglary, as a result of the economic downturn. |