Bluetooth boxes to prevent crime

The police will use Bluetooth technology to help prevent crime

Police in Leicestershire will use cutting edge technology to prevent crime and promote sensible drinking at this year's Download music festival.

The police and the Leicestershire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) will use Bluetooth boxes to send crime prevention messages to mobile phones.

The event at Donington Park, which will run from 13-15 June, is expected to attract up to 135,000 people.

In 2007, crime at the event went up by 58%, from 203 offences in 2006 to 322.

Of these, 147 offences, or 46% of all crime committed during the festival, involved theft from tents.

About 40,000 attendees at this year's festival will be staying at camp sites.

Animated messages

Workers from the Drug Intervention Programme will be walking around Donington Park using four portable Bluetooth boxes in shifts from 1000 BST until 0200 BST.

Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones will receive a note asking them if they want to receive a message.

If they accept, they will be sent animated messages with information on crime prevention and advice on alcohol and drug use.

The technology is being used by Leicestershire Police for the first time.

Inspector Chris Brown, commander of North West Leicestershire Local Policing Unit, said: "We hope that sending messages out in this way will capture people's imagination and make them think about the security of their belongings and therefore reduce crime."

Kiss, The Offspring and Lostprophets will headline at this year's Download Festival. Judas Priest, Motorhead, HIM and Rise Against are also scheduled to perform.