Vulnerable members of the community will be reminded of the dangers of cold callers and rogue traders every time they wipe the dishes.
Over 2,000 elderly and vulnerable members of the county of Conwy will receive a gift of a tea-towel, which has been designed by 10-year-old Imogen Regan of Ysgol Pendorlan, Colwyn Bay, specifically to get the message across about working together to make our communities safer.
The tea towels are part of a multi-agency initiative involving North Wales Police, PACT, Conwy Community Safety Partnership, the Conwy Crime Prevention Panel, Conwy Trading Standards and Neighbourhood Watch.
Inspector Jonny Hill said: “The message is about stopping door step crime and reminding people that they need to be careful when it comes to checking the identification of people who call unexpectedly.”
Year six pupils from three schools in Conwy – Ysgol Pendorlan in Colwyn Bay, Ysgol Tudno in Llandudno and Ysgol Dolgarrog – were invited to take part in the competition, and with a bit of help from her grandmother it was Imogen’s message “Stop doorstep crime” that caught the eye of the judges.
Ifan Hughes, Central Community Safety Officer, explained: “We wanted to do something that involved children and the elderly, because children are the future of our community.”
High Sheriff of Clwyd, Henry Robertson, added: “We wanted to help people who have not been helped in the past.”
Tobi Smith, Trading Standards Enforcement Officer at Conwy County Borough Council said: “This initiative links directly to the work currently being carried out by Conwy’s Trading Standards section. Working with North Wales Police and Neighbourhood Watch, we’re aiming to continue to reduce crime, and fear of crime, within Conwy.
“There are now 135 cold calling restriction zones in the County, and a common response from residents on questionnaires is that they feel more confident in their own homes and empowered to say No to cold calling.”
The tea towels will be distributed by CBMs, PCSOs and members of the Neighbourhood Watch teams to people who are deemed vulnerable on their patch.
