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Some people have been asking “What on earth is that?”
Police have explained why unusual ‘little Daleks’ are popping up at busy areas across Lancashire this Christmas.
A total of six Safer Pods have been installed at locations around the county, including outside Preston, Charnock Richard and Blackburn Bus Stations and in Lytham, Longridge and Lancaster town centres. The ‘cutting-edge security hubs’ feature tamper-proof CCTV technology, 360° coverage, sirens, and strobe lights for maximum impact to deter criminal activity.
Lancashire Police said they are designed to ‘help keep our communities safe and sound and they’re packed with features to stop crime and help keep us safe’. The locations were chosen following feedback from a recent survey of 5,000 women and girls across Lancashire which highlighted that women and girls wanted safer options around transport hubs, particularly during darker evenings.
A further two Pods will also operate in retail crime hotspots, helping to prevent shoplifting, harassment, and antisocial behaviour, alongside police enforcement as part of Operation Vulture, Lancashire’s response to retail crime. The units have also appeared in other places across the UK in recent weeks, leading to a flurry of comments on social media with one describing them as ‘little Daleks’ due to their resemblance to the fictional aliens in Doctor Who.
In a post on the Preston Police Facebook page today (December 22), a force spokesperson said: “Spotted something new in Preston and thought, “What on earth is that?” Meet the Safer Pod – a cutting-edge security hub designed to help keep our communities safe and sound and they’re packed with features to stop crime and help keep us safe:
“Tamper-proof CCTV with full 360° coverage. Sirens and strobe lights for instant deterrence. A self-contained, portable design for maximum flexibility
“The Preston pod is one of six installed across the county as part of the national Winter of Action campaign.
“Their mission? To tackle shoplifting, harassment, and antisocial behaviour while supporting police enforcement.
A similar post was also shared on the Fylde Police Facebook page, however some residents are not impressed by the new safety measure. One said: “Just more spying” while another wrote “Because we are not monitored enough in this country.”
Another added: “It’s a test of the new facial recognition cameras dressed up as safety. One step further towards AI doing the job instead of the police ever showing up.”
Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, said the £23,000 initiative forms part of the Safer Streets Winter of Action, a national campaign tackling retail theft, abuse of shop workers, organised criminality, street crime, and antisocial behaviour, as well as crime in the nighttime economy. Running from December 1 until the end of January, the campaign includes extra high visibility patrols in busy town centres, increased partnership working, and firm action against festive offenders.
He said: “We know that darker nights and the run up to Christmas can lead to more crime impacting retailers and town centre areas, and it’s vital that we do all we can to make our streets as safe as possible. By investing money that we have taken from criminals and putting it back into the community, we are able to prevent people and businesses from becoming victims in the first place and support enforcement and evidence gathering where offending does take place.
“Crime prevention is at the heart of my Police and Crime Plan, as it means fewer victims of crime, safer more confident communities, and lessening some of the pressure on the policing service. This funding, alongside dozens of other projects delivering the priorities the public want to see, makes a real difference.
“Through more visible neighbourhood policing, stronger partnerships on the ground, and initiatives like Safer Pods, our aim is to stop offenders in their tracks and make communities safe and secure.”
Insp Oli Tattersley, from Lancashire Constabulary, said: “We’re committing to making Lancashire an ever-safer place to live and visit and as such, we welcome this extra crime fighting capability. The pods serve will serve as both a visible deterrent and a practical tool for tool for monitoring and evidence gathering, particularly in places where we know people may feel less safe.
“Other areas of the country have seen significant reductions in shoplifting and antisocial behaviour as a result of introducing the Safer Pods so, alongside the high visibility patrols taking place as part of Op Vulture and Op Centurion, we too, hope to see lower crime levels and increased public confidence.”
David Smith OBE, LANPAC Chairman, said: “We’re proud to support this initiative alongside the Commissioner and Lancashire Constabulary. By providing match funding, LANPAC helps deliver practical solutions like Safer Pods that deter crime and make our communities safer. Working together, we can make a real difference in reducing crime and protecting local businesses.”
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