A pilot for North Cumbria and Eden

What is Doorstep Crime?

It is where someone comes to the door and tricks the householder into letting them in so that they can steal or otherwise persuade the householder to hand over money. They may pose as officials - water, gas, or electricity - try to sell something, or seek payment for doing a job.

We held two Doorstep Crime Presentations for NHW members one each in Carlisle and Penrith.

Doorstep Crime Meeting Penrith Rugby Club

Mr Pat Thomas Cumbria Trading Standards
Giving a local context on doorstep crime

The groups were asked "do you think a doorstep skills project is a good idea"?
Would you consider volunteering for BAT ?
The groups gave a good response and the idea was born!

Bogeyman Action Team Aims:

• To deliver doorstep skills training to vulnerable and older people in their own homes

• To help them to gain the skills and confidence to reduce the risk of them being a victim of bogus callers

• A team of volunteers will deliver doorstep skills training as part of a planned and coordinated team

• The BAT volunteers are given full support and training

• We plan to deliver BAT sessions on a regular basis in North Cumbria and Eden.

We are also planning to introduce a Referral System which will be discussed by the CNWA board in September 2007. This will enable our BAT volunteers to handle referrals from the Fire Service, Age Concern or residential social landlord, eg Carlisle Housing Association or Eden Housing Association.

The BAT project is working in partnership with a range of statutory and voluntary sector organisations.
A Partners Working group has been set up to help develop the project.

Partners Meeting - Wigton Road Methodist Church

L to R: Paul Caine - NHW, Brian Steele - Ex-Detective,
Pat Thomas - Cumbria Trading Standards

BAT – Providing Doorstep Skills For Elderly and Vulnerable People

The doorstep skill training will be delivered by BAT volunteers in a planned and coordinated way. All volunteers will receive induction training

The first volunteer induction training was held at Harraby Community Centre, Carlisle on 16th November 2006 by Paul Caine, NHW, Pat Thomas (Cumbria Trading Standards) and Brian Steel (ex-detective) who has developed this award wining training package.

The event made front page headlines with the local press and was also covered by BBC Look North

• A thirteen minute video is played showing an elderly person being turned over by two doorstep criminals. The video is stopped at appropriate points to allow the trainer to highlight key learning points and also to gauge how well they are following the video.

• A role play scenario on the doorstep is used to measure the elder person’s ability to handle a bogus caller. One of our BAT volunteers goes outside and attempts to gain entry through a variety of identities and scenarios. The second volunteer remains inside the house as a passive observer. After which they all go back into the house to give feedback to the elder person, eg what they did well and things they could do a little better.

• A quiz is undertaken by the elder person to encourage them to remember what they have learned. The volunteer is then asked if they need any additional support from, say, Age Concern, Carlisle and Eden Councils, Housing Associations, Safer Homes, Cumbria Police and the Fire Service.

• After the visit all paperwork will be collected and any referrals will be actioned.

Cumbria Communities Award 2007
BAT - Safer Communities Award Winner

This award is specifically for a group or a project whose activities or presence have made people feel safer in their own home or community.

Peter Stybelski Chief Executive of Cumbria County Council presided over the awards evening. (more details here) We are pleased to announce that the North Cumbria & Eden Bogeyman volunteer Action Team doorstep crime project has won the Cumbria Community Awards in the Safer Communities Category. The award was presented on the 2nd November to Paul Caine by Chief Constable Mackay at Rheged on behalf Mr Alan Smith & Chair of CNWA. Photographs courtesy of The Cumberland News Ltd
L to R : Chief Constable Mackay, Paul Caine Neighbourhood Watch Development Officer	Alan Smith, Chair - CNWA. “This is potentially a life saving project which can help to empower members of our community to live safer, healthier lives. The neighbourhood Watch BAT volunteers have to be thanked for helping this to happen”.
Delivering training to elderly people in North Cumbria & Eden
BAT Volunteers at Lister Court, Carlisle	BAT Volunteers at Pategill, Penrith
L to R: Erica Arneil, Alan Hodgson, Linda Adams, Stella Hodgson, Pauline Finlayson, Jen Oprey, Maureen Connor & Jim Tootle - Impact Housing Association.	L to R: Heidi Ware - Eden Housing Association, Maureen Connor, Edgar Craig, Una Kitchin, Cllr Colin Duncan, Cllr Joan Raine
PCSOs Support the BAT Initiative Cumbria Police has trained all 35 Police Community Support Officers in North Cumbria & Eden, to deliver doorstep crime training to the elderly
	Detective Chief Inspector Paul Smith Chair – CDRPs Acquisitive Crime Task Group Launches the PSCO - BAT initiative at Harraby Community Centre, Carlisle on 13th November 2007 With support from Pat Thomas -Trading Standards, Brian Steele Ex DC Superintendent & Paul Caine Neighbourhood Watch Development Officer. The meeting was also attended by many partner agencies.