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The event, hosted by the Design Council, is the first time that senior designers from leading technology firms, including Sony and Nokia, have joined young people, youth workers, branding experts and representatives from the police to develop products and services which will protect young people from becoming victims of crime. The focus is on generating innovative design briefs which offer a clear business opportunity for manufacturers who will be encouraged to develop them into the next generation of crime-safe gadgets.

New research published today by the Design Council on behalf of the Home Office shows that the vast majority of 11-16 year olds in England carry a gadget with them at some point.  The data also shows that one in eight (12 per cent) have been the victim of 'hot product' theft in the last three years and one in three (31 per cent) victims were listening to music on headphones, talking or texting on a phone or playing on a games console when their item was stolen.

The Home Secretary also announced proposals to extend the British Crime Survey (BCS) to include surveys of under-16s’ experiences of crime.  By extending the BCS, the Government will build on current research to understand as fully as possible young people’s concerns and experiences about crime – establishing the most comprehensive picture of youth victimisation.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said:

“We know that young people remain more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators.

 

“I am delighted that so many of our best designers have contributed their time and expertise to today’s event and I look forward to seeing genuinely new and commercially viable products flow from it. The role that good design can play in cutting crime is well established but success depends on effective partnerships between Government, the police and the design industry. We have made a clear commitment in last year’s Crime Strategy to bring design into the centre of our fight against crime and to receive such strong support from our partners is extremely encouraging.

 

“I want to ensure that young people are offered as much protection from crime as possible, and receive support if they do become victims, whilst also tackling offending vigorously. Extending the British Crime Survey will help us to understand better how crime affects young people and do even more to prevent it.  This summer we will publish a Youth Crime Action Plan to further coordinate this effort across Government.”

The research published today by the Design Council on behalf of the Home Office involved 1,000 11-16 year-olds who were questioned about their experiences of ‘hot product’ crime. The survey revealed that:

• one in eight (12 per cent) in England has been the victim of 'hot product' theft in the last three years;

• 97 per cent carry a gadget with them at some point;

• one in three (31 per cent) victims were listening to music on headphones, talking or texting on a phone or playing on a games console when their item was stolen;

• 85 per cent frequently carry their phones with them;

• 35 per cent carry an MP3 player;

• nearly half of those surveyed estimated the value of these products to be between £100 and £500; and

• almost two thirds are concerned about the items being stolen.

Police recorded crime figures show that robbery has fallen by seven per cent since 2002/03 with the latest data showing a 21 per cent since last year. With over half of robberies involving a mobile phone the Government’s work with the Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum to block stolen phones has contributed to this trend. Good design has also cut vehicle crime by 50 per cent over ten years through central locking and detachable car stereos, for example.

Design Council Chief Executive David Kester said:

"Armed with original research including observations and ideas from young people, we are bringing together manufacturers, technologists, with designers and other experts.  Our objective is simple – to look at the thorny problem of hot product theft through the design lens and come up with some new ideas.  After all that is what design does – it taps our creativity in order to help solve problems."

Notes to Editors:

1. Designing Out Crime is a joint initiative between the Home Office, the Design Council and the Design and Technology Alliance. The Design and Technology Alliance is a body of independent experts in design, consumer affairs and crime which was convened by the Design Council and the Home Office in July 2007 and is one of the key elements of the Government’s crime strategy 'Cutting Crime: a new partnership 2008-11'.

2. The Alliance draws on design expertise and business knowledge to develop and promote crime-reducing innovations, identifies incentives for business to design out crime and advises on what will appeal to consumers. For more information go to www.designcouncil.org.uk/crime

3. Home Office figures show that just under a third of young people 10-15 years have been a victim of personal crime in the past year. Of these around 17 per cent were victim of personal theft. Electronics accounts for one in four of all recorded robberies.

4. Later this year the Government will publish a new Youth Crime Action Plan.

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