Own goal for police officers

POLICE officers delivering crime prevention leaflets scored an own goal when they were spotted leaving them hanging out of letter boxes.

Eagle-eyed Tory councillor Tony Mannion was outraged when he spied police officers and PSCOs delivering the Crimestoppers leaflets but failing to push the flyers through the door—leaving a clear signal to passing criminals that no-one was home.

And the councillor was even more gobsmacked when he realised that the leaflet itself was designed to educate homeowners about preventing crime and the organisation itself.

“I couldn’t believe that they were leaving the leaflets hanging out of the letter boxes,” he said.

“It’s absolutely ridiculous and is beyond belief.

“What they were doing was giving a clear sign to a burglar that no-one was home.

“The irony is that the leaflets were about home security and yet they were doing exactly the opposite.”

A spokesman for Rotherham South Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “We would like to thank Cllr Mannion for bringing to our attention the fact that some of these leaflets may have not been fully pushed through letter-boxes.

“His comments have been passed onto the team who will now ensure that when delivering leaflets, this no longer happens.

“The leaflets contain some very useful information and officers and PCSOs from the SNT like to personally hand deliver them to residents, so that they can answer any questions and be out in the community engaging with homeowners and business owners.”