News

<FONT color=black>SEMINAR TACKLES COMMUNITY SAFETY

<FONT color=black>More than 200 delegates involved in initiatives to reduce crime in the county attended a major conference o­n Community Safety yesterday (2 July).

<FONT color=black>At the River Centre in Tonbridge, the conference both celebrated the achievements of the last five years and looked ahead at identifying the priorities for tackling anti-social behaviour in the future. The seminar also looked at the community safety issues linked with the huge projected expansion of homes in Kent in the next 20 years, particularly in Ashford and North West Kent.

<FONT color=black>The day was organised by Kent County Council, Kent Police and Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

<FONT color=black>Opening the conference, County Council Leader Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart told delegates that o­ne of the Council's highest priorities is to work with the Police and the Fire Service to ensure Kent people feel safe, both inside their homes and in their neighbourhoods.

<FONT color=black>He said: 'I wholeheartedly congratulate the work of Police, Fire and the Districts in working to make Kent a safe place. KCC has built o­n the success of our Community Warden Scheme and will have a total of 100 wardens deployed in both rural and urban fringes within the next year. Our Trading Standards department has been very successful in addressing stolen goods, bogus and rogue trading incidents. The Handyvan schemes have already installed more than 5000 security kits and smoke alarms in the homes of vulnerable elderly people and the number of vans is set to double to 12 over the next two to three years.

<FONT color=black>'Taking into consideration all our other day-to-day work that impacts o­n community safety, we estimate that KCC's overall contribution to safety in Kent is in excess of £20 million a year. We have now, together with our partners, set a new and challenging target to work to reduce anti-social behaviour and the fear of crime. This is not easy but we are determined to make Kent a safer place.'

<FONT color=black>Chief Constable Mike Fuller said: 'This conference is a clear example of the willingness and commitment of different agencies to work together in order to reduce crime, tackle anti-social behaviour and address the public's fear of crime. This partnership approach can o­nly serve to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors to our county.'

<FONT color=black>Chief Executive and Chief Fire Officer, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Peter Coombs, who chaired the event said: "We are pleased to be working with partners such as Kent County Council and Kent Police in order to positively affect the lives of the people of Kent.

<FONT color=black>'There is a clear link between anti-social behaviour and deliberate fire setting and o­ne of our key priorities is to continue working with partners to reduce this problem."

<FONT color=black>Deputy Director of the Anti-social Behaviour Unit, Home Office, Joe Tuke also gave a presentation o­n the government's Together programme for dealing with anti-social behaviour.

<FONT color=black size=4>PRICKLY REMINDER ABOUT DRINK SPIKING

<FONT color=black>Shepway District Council, Kent Police and Folkestone Soroptimists are continuing their campaign against drink spiking with bottle markers featuring a Spike the hedgehog.

<FONT color=black>The markers will be placed o­n unattended glasses and bottles by bar staff to remind people of the risks of not keeping an eye o­n their drinks.

<FONT color=black>Spike the hedgehog markers have been distributed to pubs and clubs across the district that have entertainment licences by local Soroptimists.

<FONT color=black>Drink spiking involves the addition of any substance, including extra alcohol, to a drink including non-alcoholic o­nes without the drinker’s knowledge or consent. Most of the time these substances are colourless and odourless.

<FONT color=black>“To avoid being the victim of this kind of practice you should look after yourself and particularly your drink,� said Sandra Francis Shepway Council Licensing Manager.

<FONT color=black>Sgt Ady Poole of Kent Police’s Crime Reduction Unit said: “The campaign is to raise awareness that drink spiking happens, but not to create unreasonable fear.�

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<FONT color=black size=4>Handy Van Scheme<FONT size=2>

<FONT color=black>The Help the Aged Handy Van scheme protects vulnerable older people against loss through burglary by securing their homes. Since 1995, Help the Aged’s Handy Van Scheme has made over 40,000 older people feel safe in their homes and currently operates in over 20 area in England, Scotland and Wales.

Each area has at least o­ne fitter with a fully equipped van. The scheme is always oversubscribed and secure o­n average around 60 homes per day nationally.

<FONT color=black>In line with Government’s Crime Reduction Strategy the aim of the scheme is to make the homes of vulnerable, older people safe and more secure through the provision and fitting of safety kits and the carrying out of minor repairs - such as changing light bulbs.

The scheme is primarily aimed at people over the age of 60.

<FONT color=black>There is no charge for labour or for the products that are installed, <FONT color=black>but there is a savings limit of £25,000+.

The kits comprise of the following - smoke alarm, door chain, five lever mortice lock (deadlock) for the front door and mortice bolts for the back, spy hole and window locks for downstairs and vulnerable upstairs windows.

All fitters are trained not o­nly in the work they carry out, but also in dealing with older people. For instance, they will not leave the recipient’s home until they are sure that they understand how the products they have installed actually work. They also leave behind a pack containing helpful advice leaflets.

<FONT color=black>The Handy Van Scheme was launched in the South East Kent Policing area in November 2001.

The NHW Office is o­ne of the referral points and holds the application forms and requests can be made over the phone.

Should you have a vulnerable person within your area that you believe would benefit from the Handy Van scheme please telephone the Rcw Ian Norman 07811271303 and arrangements will be made to complete an application form. (This work is not carried out in Warden Controlled properties).

<FONT color=black>Please make sure that you have spoken with the prospective recipient and you have their agreement.

The Community warden will then send the application form to the Handy Van Administration Office where they will enter relevant details o­nto a computerised control system, they will then advise the Client in writing that the application form has been received and processed.

The Client will then be telephoned to make a mutually acceptable date to carry out the work. The name of the Handy Van fitter that will be calling will also be confirmed and a contact number will be left just in case the Client needs to rearrange the appointment.

Once the work is completed the fitter invites the Client to sign the Handy Van Inspection Notes confirming that the work has been carried out to their satisfaction.