Protecting the Vulnerable!

Picture taken from Barkinside 21 blogsite

Doorstep crime is on the increase in the borough, reports of bogus callers dominates the local media and the RNWA faced with an ever increasing list of this type of crime sanctioned a No-bogus callers training day. This was held on the 4th Of December and one of the most esteemed guests was Richard Binder the Borough Commander for our Fire service. Ilsa Martin one of your Green Activists for Chadwell is the Treasurer for the RNWA which has recently secured close to £10,000 from the home office, funding this project and others.

The event went well although due to a restrictive timetable the dates were a little rushed resulting in a smaller than expected turnout. However, all those that attended received indicated that thy had gained from the session. It would be great to see more NHW Coordinators in the next training course we hope to hold sometime in February - so please do get in contact.

The RNWA as part of the training also funded a number of training CDs which have been distributed to all participants. They will now use the 15 minute Training DVD to teach elderly people in the borough safer door strategies and housekeeping skills that should reduce incidents of this type of crime.

The Aims of the course were as follows:

1. A stark warning not to employ cold callers whatsoever!
2. Improve Doorstep skills
3. Not to keep money at home!

Useful learning included:

- Promotion of the Buy with Confidence Scheme and approved subcontractor database of companies vetted by LBR Trading Standards and the Police.
-Notification of the utility company password scheme - Individual passwords allocated to subscribers now used by all utility companies. Staff visiting from any company are required to quote password before entering a premises.
-Information on the Redbridge Handy Van Scheme (Free crime prevention devices fitted at home provided by Help the Aged)

The course advised us that the average victim of bogus callers are white females between the ages of 71 - 78. This is much due to the unscrupulous perpetrators targeting the more vulnerable groups in society, who generally suffer social isolation and are limited by a physical or cognitive disadvantage.

The average age of death for women is 82 and that of men around 78.

UK Statistical data on health problems included:

16% of people of 75yrs+ have sight difficulties
50% of people 80Yrs+ have a hearing difficulty
6% of people 6%yrs + suffer from dementia
25% of People 85 -89yrs suffer from dementia

Advice provided for presenting the training to elderly people was to ensure that you give no credence to criminals. Many of the people visited will already have been victims. They may use the trainers as a listening post for disclosure.

Trainers will also have to face a much higher set of morals such as:

"I have never been a burden on anyone"
"I always pay for everything by cash - I was taught to spend only what I have earned"
"I was taught always to keep money for a rainy day"

However, it is imperative to explain to the elderly generation that we live in a time of changing if not evaporating morals, It is a disgusting and distorted world we live in and we need to alter the way we live to fit the circumstances.

Using banks and Cash Cards is favourable to the use of badly designed covert money boxes, stashing money under mattresses and in cupboards in the bedroom. Moreover keeping house well maintained will reduce the opportunistic criminals from recognising that an elderly person is living at particular homes.

As Chairman of the RNWA I would like to invite other residents or NHW Coordinators to enter the next course. Please contact us should you wish to be included. I can also advise that our budget will extend to purchasing signage like that in the picture, which we hope to introduce to your areas.