Police celebrate successful outreach operation

Devon and Cornwall Police are due to host a celebration presentation, to showcase the results of their successful Debt and Crime Prevention campaign in Plymouth, earlier this year.

The operation was spearheaded by Crime Prevention Officer, Sarah German, working with other key partners across the city, including Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, Age UK Plymouth, Advice Plymouth, Plymouth Libraries, Plymouth Community Homes, Trading Standards and Working Links.

Using the Blue Community Bus and local community centres, fifteen events were held to raise awareness of crimes that specifically target some of the most vulnerable individuals in the city.

In collaboration with Plymouth City Council (Revenue & Benefits), funding was secured to provide welfare and security ‘warm packs’, containing a blanket, socks, soup, thermometer, and security items, such as a light timer, purse bells and a window alarm.

Over the course of the engagement sessions, more than four hundred bags were given out, and a further 330 referrals were made for crime prevention or fire safety visits and to other partnership agencies, to enable individuals to access valuable support.

Through the project, residents were also able to seek advice regarding issues such as benefits, utilities, the Emergency Welfare Fund (Department for Working Pensions – DWP), housing and volunteering opportunities via Age UK Plymouth’s ‘befriending service’.

Sarah German said: "The Blue Bus events were a fantastic opportunity to able to engage with a huge number of people, and to raise awareness of the wide availability of support services on offer.

"As a direct result of this project, we have developed a key partnership group, who are committed to protecting the most vulnerable amongst us, and hope to be able to continue to do so for the future."