Abu Dhabi police visit Wolverhampton

Five officers from the Project Engineering Administration Department of Abu Dhabi Police met officers from Wolverhampton Police as part of a course at the University of Wolverhampton.

They have been learning about ‘Secured by Design’ - a national police initiative that provides guidance on how the design and security features of a new development can reduce crime, the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.

The officers visited Wolverhampton as students on a four-week course in Continuing Professional Development at the University of Wolverhampton. They are involved in the design and planning of security features for developments in Abu Dhabi, and are interested in the methods used to secure properties in the UK.

The officers were given a guided tour around a number of developments in Wolverhampton that have achieved Secured by Design status, including the Showell Park Estate in Low Hill and the Bushbury Triangle development in Bushbury, where crime and fear of crime has significantly reduced as a result of the Secured by Design principles.

They were also given hands-on experience of 3D visualisation and virtual reality environment work related to construction in the University’s Architecture and Product Design department.

Costas Georghiou, Visiting Professor of Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Wolverhampton, and former Chief Planning & Highways Officer for the City, said: “Achieving safe and secure communities is not just about making properties secure and the careful planning and design of buildings, roads and spaces, but also helping the community to achieve prosperity and well-being through employment and support facilities such as health and education. This was the key message of the course”.

PC Ian Jones, crime reduction officer in Wolverhampton, added: “Although crime is currently very low in Abu Dhabi, security is still a high priority for the police. The aim of the tour was to show the Abu Dhabi officers how city planners, developers and the police can work together to produce a safer more secure environment for people to live in.”

The Abu Dhabi Police force have indicated that more officers will visit early in 2010 to attend the course in Construction Project Management.

Further information

For media inquiries, please contact Vickie Woodward in the University of Wolverhampton Media Relations Office on 01902 322736 or Phill Griffin at Wednesfield police station on 0845 113 5000 ext 7872 6870.