UK AWP operator IOA Group has slammed the content of a police circular, which suggests that a method of reducing crimes against gaming machines is to remove them from pub premises altogether.

The correspondence, which has been sent to publicans by Hertfordshire Constabulary working out of Stevenage Police Station, states: "Do you really need the gaming machine? By removing the machine from the property you are removing the inducement to commit crime."

It goes on to list some security steps warning that ‘failure to follow the advice that has been offered will be seen as a failure to abide by one of the four national licensing priorities and could lead to the premises being taken to review.’

Ken Mullarkey, national sales executive for IOA Group, commented: "It is ridiculous, a bit like recommending people cycle to work in order to reduce the risk of car crime. It clearly hasn’t been thought through and at a time when many police forces appear to be taking machine crime seriously it is a little bit disappointing.

"Gaming machines generate an important revenue stream for pubs up and down the country and to suggest they should be removed in order to remove the inducement to commit crime is simply crazy."