PRIVACY SPACES

More ‘privacy spaces’ are to be created at ATMs as part of Home Office plans to tackle robberies at cash machines. The spaces, which consist of a marked out box on the pavement, could play a useful role in cutting robberies according to the government. Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker says his department has renewed its agreement with mobile phone operators to block stolen phones. The mobile industry has pledged to block 80% of stolen phones within 24 hours on their networks. Coaker says: “Pilots have shown that privacy spaces can reduce crime at bank machines and we’re working with industry to roll these out.”