A community safety event to warn people about doorstep crime will take place in Flint Town Hall on Monday 24 January. Flint Communities First, North Wales Police, Flintshire Doorstep Crime Group, Flintshire Neighbourhood Watch have joined forces to organise the event, which will be held between 10am and 12 noon at Flint Town Hall. Residents of Flint are invited to attend. Community Safety Partnership and
The aim of the event on January 24 is to raise awareness of doorstep crime, including scams, bogus callers and rogue traders, in order to keep residents of Flintshire safe. By working together in partnership, and providing as much information and assistance to residents, we can help people to avoid becoming victims, provide reassurance, and reduce the fear of crime.
Doorstep crime can affect anyone in any age group but most often it is elderly and vulnerable members of the community who are targeted by people claiming to be from somewhere they are not, or falsely claiming to offer services, eg. they could claim to be from the Council, say they have come to read the meter or claim to be offering a great deal on household goods or repairs. These people can be very plausible and believable but their main aim is to con people out of money or valuables.
Kieran Duff, Chair of the Flint Communities First Partnership Board, said: “This event has been organised by the Community Safety Action Group – a local partnership involving Flint Communities First, North Wales Police, local residents and representatives from voluntary and statutory groups. It’s a really good example of people working together to make Castle ward, and Flint, a safer community.”
PC Hazel Goss MBE said: “Doorstep crime is defined as crime committed by doorstep callers including bogus workmen, high pressure sales people, bogus officials and distraction burglary. Within the Flintshire Community Safety Partnership and Flintshire Doorstep Crime Group excellent work is being done to make a significant input into reducing doorstep crime and the fear of crime, making Flintshire a safer place to live.”
PC Goss MBE will be available on the day to talk to residents about home safety, and keeping safe when out and about. Other information will also be available covering crime prevention.
Richard Powell from Flintshire Trading Standards said:
“Doorstep crime is a particularly insidious crime that most often takes place in the presence of the victim. This event will give residents in Flint an excellent opportunity to familiarise themselves with the issues surrounding doorstep crime and, most importantly, show how to avoid becoming a victim of this type of crime.”
For further information about this event please contact Noreen Ryan at Flint Communities First on 01352 734485.
