Please disclose whether your force has in the last two years deployed cardboard cut-outs of police officers or other civilian staff such as PCSOs?

If cardboard cut-outs have been deployed please reveal the amount of money spent on this.

In what exact locations were the cardboard cut-outs deployed, for how long and for what law enforcement or crime deterrent purposes?

How many of the cut-outs have been (a) stolen or (b) criminally damaged?

Please disclose whether your force has in the last two years deployed cardboard cut-outs of police officers or other civilian staff such as PCSOs?

Avon and Somerset Constabulary have deployed cardboard cut-outs of police officers in the last two years.

If cardboard cut-outs have been deployed please reveal the amount of money spent on this.

Five life-size images of beat managers cost a total of £370, exclusive of VAT, as this was recovered.

In what exact locations were the cardboard cut-outs deployed, for how long and for what law enforcement or crime deterrent purposes?

All five deployments were within the Taunton Neighbourhood Policing Area:
• Sainsbury’s – approximately three months
• Priorswood Resource Centre – approximately two months
• Halcon Centre – approximately two months
• Holway Primary School – approximately two months
• ASDA – approximately two months

The predominant aim for deployment of these images was as a communication tool to inform communities about their Beat Managers, essentially putting a name to a face. At no point were the images intended, or considered to be, a ‘law enforcement’ tool in the locations in which they were deployed. Any additional crime prevention or reduction benefit has not been measured as this was not the original aim of the deployments.

How many of the cut-outs have been (a) stolen or (b) criminally damaged?

To date one image has been stolen on two occasions, being recovered after the first offence but remains outstanding after the subsequent offence.