A new Neighbourhood Watch scheme has been launched to protect older people living in Three Rivers.
‘Senior Watch’ was created in the wake of a large number of scam phone calls made to residents. Officers wanted to find a way to disseminate essential safety information to their older residents who are not active on social media.
A PCSO from each of the three Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Three Rivers has taken on the role of specialist ‘liaison officer’ for the scheme and over recent weeks they have been busy building up contacts for all key people who may live or work with older people living in Three Rivers, such as people who manage care homes, social clubs, sheltered housing or retirement complexes.
These key people can now be contacted with essential crime prevention advice at the click of a button, which they can then share with their residents or service users.
In addition to the creation of the new watch, each PCSO has been given specialist training and a database of different housing schemes, clubs, meetings and events has been created so that PCSOs can attend these locations to carry out meetings and crime prevention talks.
In addition, the PCSOs have teamed up with Hertfordshire Community Meals in Three Rivers to accompany delivery drivers and visit every recipient of the service to provide crime prevention advice, Neighbourhood Watch stickers and timer switches. If a resident has been found to be particularly vulnerable to crime, referrals have been made for additional help or security measures.
Sergeant Luke Mitchell says “The PCSOs have done a great job in working closely with a number of organisations, such as housing associations, Age UK, Three Rivers District Council and the Five Way Friends Club, to build better contacts and create new relationships. We’ve also received funding from Three Rivers District Council and Thrive Homes in order to make this possible, so we thank them for their support.”
Kerry James from Age UK Hertfordshire says: “We’re pleased to be working with the police on this project and welcome the additional support they can give both the staff and our clients, this will enable the police to signpost vulnerable people to our services and allow us in turn to raise concerns to them.”
If you would like to sign up to the scheme, or have an elderly neighbour and would like to join the scheme to pass on messages to them, or work for an organisation which may benefit from being involved, you should contact Jenny Stedwick of the Rickmansworth and District Safer Neighbourhood Team:
jennifer.stredwick@herts.pnn.police.uk.