Safer Streets team make home visits (From Watford Observer)

Safer Streets team visits vulnerable residents in Hertsmere

4:03pm Monday 3rd September 2012 in News By Amie Mulderrig, Features Writer

Vulnerable adults across Hertsmere have been receiving visits from the Safer Streets team along with a home-cooked meal.

Hertfordshire Police and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service officers from Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership’s (CSP) Safer Streets team have been joining staff from Hertfordshire Community Meals during their meals on wheels rounds across the borough since last month.

During the visits, officers introduce themselves to residents and offer them the chance to have a free home security check and fire risk assessment.

They install fire alarms or security equipment and arrange regular visits, where necessary.

Each resident is also given a Safer Streets "How local services can help you" information folder, which includes contact numbers and information on local services.

Since the beginning of this year, the Safer Streets team, which is co-ordinated by the community safety team at Hertsmere Borough Council , has knocked on more than 1,500 doors offering crime prevention advice, free security checks, and free fire risk assessments.

The team has also completed more than 760 surveys with residents, recruited more than 360 people for Neighbourhood Watch, and found 235 people keen to learn first aid skills.

During this latest initiative, they hope to reach some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

Hertsmere Borough Councillor Charles Goldstein, Conservative representative, said: "Hertsmere is a safe place to live and work, and local agencies work hard throughout the year to keep it like that.

"It makes sense to team up with Hertfordshire Community Meals staff, who are known and trusted by their clients.

"We hope this initiative will help increase feelings of safety among the most vulnerable, and make it even harder for criminals to get away with offences."

Sarah Wren, chief executive of Hertfordshire Community Meals said: "Hertfordshire Community Meals is a charitable social enterprise that delivers meals on wheels to over 2000 vulnerable adults across the county.

"As part of our work we have undertaken several projects to help keep our clients safe and well.

"We are delighted to be working with Hertsmere Borough Council on this latest project, which aims to provide clients with an introduction via our delivery team, to local police, fire and community safety teams."

Neighbourhood Inspector for Hertsmere, Nick Ablett said that the Safer Streets team is dedicated to ensuring that community’s vulnerable feel safe and secure in their homes.

He said: "This new initiative builds on directly reaching people with essential advice who, because of their age or mobility issues, may be particularly vulnerable to certain crimes, such as distraction burglary and rogue traders."