Policing Board hosts older people groups at its public meeting

During a public meeting earlier today of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, members of the Board and members of the public heard a report on the police response to crime against older people.

Board members put questions to the Chief Constable on behalf of local charities Help the Aged and Age Concern.

Board Vice Chairman Barry Gilligan said: “Following a recent spate of attacks on older people, the Board called for a report from the Police Community Safety Branch to outline what strategies they are doing to tackle crime against older people.

“The Board has been working with Help the Aged and Age Concern as part of our Engaging with the Community strategy and is committed to ensuring that their concerns are brought forward to the policing agenda.

“Board members are not only concerned about the vile and horrendous attacks that have been carried out on some of our society’s most vulnerable people, but are also anxious that older and vulnerable people have all the reassurance they need to know they are safe in their own homes.”

Mr Gilligan continued: “However, this is not just a policing issue – the community as a whole have a part to play in ensuring that they report anything they think is relevant to the police. Our social responsibility to our neighbours – particularly those who are vulnerable - is all the more poignant at Christmas time and we want to see the perpetrators caught and prevented from carrying out such attacks.”

(EF/KMcA)