The Met Police has advised Britons to plant 17 different types of shrubs in order to deter thieves from their properties.
The force has issued leaflets recommending a variety of plants, including climbing roses, oranges and privet shrubs, that could to create a “natural defence against burglary”.
In order to maximise effectiveness, the leaflet said that planting them “close together” could help.
It also includes a link to a Met Police website, which gives other advice. It lists additional plants such as hawthorn, Japanese quince and holly which would also make a good deterrent.
The force has issued leaflets recommending a variety of plants that could to create a ‘natural defence against burglary’
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The leaflet reads: “Planting particular shrubs (in their mature or semi-mature form) along garden walls and fences can make it harder for burglars to access your property or put them off completely.
“To maximise this effect, plant them close to each other.”
Reacting to the new guidance, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, told The Times: “For all crime the Met’s clear-up rate is the worst in the country. The Met police needs to concentrate on the basics of catching criminals and less on gardening advice.”
He said he believes the police should be using more effective methods such as facial recognition to help catch criminals.
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The leaflet also includes a link to a Met Police website, which gives other advice
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“Gardening advice is not going to help do that,” he stressed.
A Met Police spokesperson defended the advice, saying: “We will continue to help prevent people from becoming victims while simultaneously cracking down on burglars and organised crime groups.”
They pointed to a 10 per cent drop in residential burglaries across London in the past year.
In January, analysis from The Telegraph found that in 30 per cent of neighbourhoods across the UK, police officers had failed to solve a single burglary, personal theft or locate a stolen bike.
Climbing roses are one of the plants cited that could to create a ‘natural defence against burglary’
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Data from the police revealed that no burglaries or thefts had been solved in 10,135 of the 33,970 neighbourhoods in England and Wales in the past three years.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “As part of our mission to take back our streets we will restore neighbourhood policing in local communities by delivering 13,000 neighbourhood police and community support officers.
“The Home Office will take a more active role to improve standards in policing so that charge rates increase, more crimes are solved and justice is delivered for victims rebuilding confidence and trust in policing.”