London (UK) - Public safety officials in the UK are using humorous posters, radio, and television ads to inform citizens about how to reduce their exposure to crime. Many of the ads are targeting iPod-toting, cell-phone-talking techies who might ordinarily be willing to put up a fight to protect their gear. Officials want to let the public know, "It's not worth it."
The Home Office, the British governmental department responsible for internal affairs, is running a three-year campaign whose motto is "Let's Keep Crime Down," and looking at crime from the criminal's point of view. The ads are aimed mostly at adults, though students are also targeted. All of the posters, radio, and television ads are downloadable from the Home Office Crime Reduction Web site.
While general property crime in Great Britain has fallen in the past few years, thieves are pilfering more mobile electronics from unsuspecting subway riders. Some of the ads encourage people to give up the gear and not risk a fight. "Give up your seat, not your phone" says one ad. Other ads tell people to not show off their gear, their premise being, if the thieves can't see it, then they won't steal it. Says one ad, "Bye pod. Don't advertise your MP3 to thieves."
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