Councillor David Henwood has been patrolling the streets of Littlemore, Oxford, with hyōshigi (Picture: Tom Wren / SWNS)
A suburb in Oxford has discovered that the answer to crime prevention may not lie in CCTV, Ring doorbells, or neighbourhood WhatsApp groups, but in two pieces of wood banged together.
After a spate of tyre slashings and knife attacks, residents of Littlemore have begun tackling crime with the historic Japanese method of hyōshigi.
Hyōshigi is a basic musical instrument consisting of two pieces of hardwood or bamboo, sometimes connected by rope.
The clappers are knocked together to create a cracking sound, which is traditionally used in Japanese theatre and by night-watchmen for hundreds of years.
The noise is used to let local people know they are being watched over and to warn the would-be criminals away.
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Councillor David Henwood, who represents the Littlemore area, has been patrolling four roads with a hyōshigi.
Cllr Henwood, who is married to a Japanese woman and lived in Japan for 20 years, said crime in the area has already been cut by neighbourhood patrols using the devices.
He said: ‘These are wooden clappers used at night to remind people to check things like gas supplies and general safety.
Cllr Henwood would like to bring the ‘lovely sound’ of Tokyo to Littlemore in Oxford (Picture: Tom Wren / SWNS)
‘I’ll be using them in a similar way – to encourage residents to stay vigilant, carry out basic checks, and to let them know they are being cared for and watched over.
‘We did it in one time when we had a large spate of bike thefts. It proved very successful.
‘It told the thieves we were in the area and recording things.’
When he lived in Japan, both in Tokyo and on the outer islands, he said he would often see these wooden sticks used.
He said: ‘Every evening, especially during the winter months, part-time firemen would walk the streets.
‘In front of every house, they would clap these sticks – I didn’t really understand what they were for.
‘It was explained to me that it’s a warning to be vigilant – turn the gas off, make sure the windows are closed, make sure everything’s safe.
‘It develops a fantastic community spirit between local neighbourhoods. It’s something I wanted to bring here but never really had the courage to do so.’
Now, Cllr Henwood would like to bring the ‘lovely sound’ of Tokyo to Littlemore in Oxford.
The neighbourhood started using the Japanese method about a week ago, focusing on the problematic streets where the tyre slashing started.
He continued: ‘It’s very difficult for the police to be around all the time, and they’re not always visible, so I wanted to fill a gap in the evenings and do a night patrol.
‘Just being in the van doesn’t really make people feel safe, so I thought if they could hear as well as see, then they would know that somebody was out there looking after the community.
‘People have come out, curtains have been opened to see what’s going on, and we’ve had people in touch via social media and telephone to say thank you.’
Fighting local crime one wooden stick at a time (Picture: Tom Wren / SWNS)
With this historic method, Cllr Henwood hopes the perpetrator who slashed the tyres in the area will be caught.
The method has already started growing, according to Cllr Henwood, who says a new volunteer has come forward to share the responsibility.
He plans to continue the hyōshigi patrols during the winter, and possibly into the summer as he ‘wants people to feel safer in their homes’ and is ‘willing to try anything to try and achieve that.’
He hopes that other areas and institutions will try using hyōshigi across the UK.
Thames Valley Police said they are aware of ‘multiple reports of criminal damage to motor vehicles on Giles Road, Littlemore.’
A spokesperson from the police force said: ‘On 23 December and 30 December, a black Mini Cooper had its tyre damaged, and on 28 December, a black MG had its tyre damaged.
‘These incidents are believed to be targeted and there is no wider threat to the public. No arrests have been made and enquiries are still ongoing.
‘If you have any information or may have seen this incident, please contact us quoting 43250658134 or call anonymously on 0800 555 111.’
On December 11, Giles Road was the scene of a recent stabbing, which led to residents saying they did not feel safe.
The victim, a man in his 20s, suffered serious injuries and was sent to the hospital in a non-life-threatening condition.
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