Peer speakers tackle fear of crime

Age Scotland and its partner agencies, Northern Constabulary, Highland Senior Network and the Highland Community Care Forum (HCCF), are greatly encouraged by the positive response to their Stay Safe scheme.

The unique pilot, aimed at reducing the fear of crime amongst older people in Inverness and its outskirts, has been running for 18 months now, and has been warmly welcomed by over-50s in the community for its innovation and effectiveness.

Funding for the Stay Safe scheme, provided by Age Scotland and Comic Relief, enabled HCCF to undertake research amongst people over 50 to find out what concerns they had and what information they would like to be given about community safety in the Inverness area.

Based on the survey's results, a multi-agency steering group was then set up to take forward a peer speaking project, involving six volunteer speakers led by a volunteer co-ordinator.

They were coached to deliver talks to older people's groups on a variety of subjects including doorstep crime, including bogus callers, rogue tradesmen and distraction burglary, as well as scams and other issues relating to community safety.

The speakers are currently delivering talks to older people's groups in the Inverness area and it's hoped to extend the project to more rural neighbourhoods and eventually across the whole Northern Constabulary region depending on future funding streams.

Research by HCCF has shown that older people are more likely to take in and trust information delivered by their peers, rather than by someone much younger. Research also suggests that they prefer to hear from people with similar life experience to themselves. That's why the volunteer speakers are all over 50 years of age.

Jo Cowan, Age Scotland's Development Officer for the North, is delighted at the success of the Stay Safe scheme. She said: "Stay Safe offers older volunteers an ideal opportunity to become involved in an initiative that greatly benefits their peers. It also demonstrates the value the experience of older people brings to our communities.

"Our volunteer speakers create an environment in which older people not only receive information but also feel comfortable about raising any concerns they may have around community safety."

Northern Constabulary's representative on the Steering Group, Constable Rosanna MacSween, said: "We have seen the Stay Safe scheme take off during the first 18 months and we're now getting requests for talks from a number of groups outwith Inverness who have heard about the project.

"Older people tell us they see Stay Safe as a vital source of information and reassurance and that it is making them feel more secure and supported within their communities."

One of the supporting partner agencies is the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and Area Fiscal, Andrew Laing, applauded the scheme, saying: "This is a very worthwhile exercise. We know that there are certain criminals who cynically target older people and attempt to take advantage of their situation and their assets.

"I believe this type of criminality is under-reported and the scale of the problem is much bigger than most of us would imagine. The Stay Safe Scheme is an excellent way of warning folk in our community of specific dangers and providing some good practical advice and support to help them avoid becoming a victim and stay safe. "