What all of us can do is to scan our journeys for potentially dangerous items at any time we walk about.

Of course we must be careful not to intrude into other people’s property or become Neighbour Stalkers, as it has happened in some cases.

What is possible, is to look into bushes, undergrowth, behind street furniture, check cracks in walls, loose bricks, hidden corners in communal areas for suspicious items. That might include

It’s always best to have a spare pair of rubber gloves on us to handle suspicious items, which may hold important traces of evidence on them.

• abandoned number plates
• hidden drugs
• knives, guns
• mobile phones, credit cards (abandoned, hidden)
• suspicious tools, used for burglary
• loose bricks near street or in car parks

As a Police Volunteer we get trained to detect such articles always in the presence of a police officer, who can take possession of such items there an then.

Indeed dangerous knives or even guns, cannot be handled by ourselves. If we find dangerous knives or guns we must call 999 for immediate advice if no police officer is in reach.

Other items, we can take a picture of and message this to Met Police MetCC on Twitter who will advise us what to do with the item. You can call 101 if you do not wish to use MetCC but it might take longer to deal with your enquiry.

It’s important to find and submit suspicious articles.

A discarded or hidden mobile phone might be a discarded phone used to commit crime or a burner phone from a local criminal, hidden in a place for later use.

Most hidden items, need to be recorded and reported to police who advice most of the time to bring them to a station.

Loose bricks who don’t seem to belong to a location must be put safely out of harms way as they are likely used to smash car windscreens or break into houses.

Some burglars hide break-in tools in public flower pots or crevices to use later.

Even behind signs screwed into walls in stair cases in blocks of flats or any public area can be used to hide small knives, sim cards, credit cards for example. Sometimes ledges, roof tops, are used to hide materials.

If you have repeatedly notified police of your suspicious and feel nothing is being done, contact us with your enquiry. Join us for support.

We must urge you to not endanger yourself, only act if you are confident that it is safe to do so.