We want to keep you informed in relation to some of the partnership's work and hope you find this both informative and useful. This complements our bi-monthly newsletter which will continue to provide a more in depth look at our priority areas.
Coming up in this Issue........................
Elderly and vulnerable victims of fraud and rogue trading
Friends Against Scams
Offending Offender Mentoring in the Criminal Justice System; Workshop day at Horsham District Council
Road Safety 'It Can Wait' campaign
Domestic, Sexual Violence & Abuse and Violence against Women and Girls
Domestic Abuse Surgery
Update from the Office of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner
Rise in precept to boost policing in Sussex
Update from the District & Borough Community Safety Partnerships Safer Hastings Partnership
Cyber Crime News Bulletin
W/C 13th and 20th January 2017
Other news Armed Forces Network
Safe in East Sussex Newsletter
Safer Internet Day: 7th February 2017
Other Useful Resources Hate crime: What it is and how to support victims and witnesses
Elderly and vulnerable victims of fraud and rogue trading
Friends Against Scams
Since the New Year, the Friends Against Scams initiative which aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by empowering communities to… ‘Take a Stand Against Scams’, has been delivered to a wide range of people including the general public, staff at Wealden District Council, residents from Cranbrook Retirement Village, and staff from South East Independent Living Ltd (STEPS). Feedback has been positive. Barry Lovell, STEPS Team Leader said:
“STEPS has benefited massively from the Friends Against Scams session – it was delivered initially to half our team and was really positive, engaging, informative and a real “eye opener”!
STEPS will be arranging to have its remaining staff trained as “Friends” and will be having at least one staff member trained as a SCAMchampion. STEPS will continue to work actively with the National Trading Standards Scams Team and Friends Against Scams to help identify and ultimately reduce fraudulent activity with its clients".
Offender Mentoring in the Criminal Justice System; Workshop day at Horsham District Council.
Partners from Kent, Surrey and Sussex gave presentations highlighting individual areas of work, structured discussions were also facilitated to understand and develop the role of mentoring in the Criminal Justice System. Please click on their respective images for further information.
KSS CRC (Kent, Surrey and Sussex Community Rehabilitation Company) delivers rehabilitation services to people who have committed a criminal offence and been given either a custodial or community sentence by a court.
The Brighton Women's Centre shared the fantastic success their service users have reported through the support of a mentor including improved wellbeing, access to support services and improvements in at least one area of housing, finance, relationship, health or safety
The Durham Constabulary gave a presentation regarding their Checkpoint Programme. Checkpoint is a voluntary multi-agency adult offender diversion scheme within County Durham and Darlington, targeting low and medium level offenders within the criminal justice process. Checkpoint offers eligible offenders a 4-month long contract to engage as an alternative to prosecution.
Volunteers from the multi-faith chaplaincy at HM Prison Downview shared success stories of how mentoring has supported prisoners upskill and reintegrate back into the community.
The findings of this day will be fed back to the Joint Strategic Reducing Re-Offending Group.
Road Safety
Sussex drivers are urged to remember that 'It Can Wait' when it comes to using a mobile phone while driving
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is supporting a new campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of in-car distractions from your mobile phone.
Sussex Safer Roads Partnership (SSRP) has launched 'It Can Wait' to highlight driving while distracted, which is an increasing problem on Sussex roads. It Can Wait aims to remind drivers that nothing is more important than focussing on driving – and driving alone. The campaign is urging drivers to place their phone out of reach, or set it to silent, before setting off on a journey to ensure they are not distracted or tempted to pick it up while driving.
SSRP member organisations are supporting the campaign and spreading the message county-wide. Sussex Police ran two weeks of enforcement from the 23rd to the 29th of January, and a further week the 1st to the 7th of March.
ESFRS are calling on members of the public to back this campaign. You can get involved by sharing ESFRS's social media posts, encouraging friends and family to put their phones down, turn your own phone off or onto silent when driving, and report other drivers using their mobiles to Operation Crackdown (www.operationcrackdown.org) #ItCanWait
Domestic, Sexual Violence & Abuse and Violence against Women and Girls
Domestic Abuse Surgery
From January 2017, a Domestic Abuse Surgery will be available at the Citizens Advice Bureau in Eastbourne every Wednesday between 1 – 3 p.m. Through the Surgery, women and men 18 +, as well as young people aged 16-18 will be able to access specialist information and advice.
The Surgery is provided by specialist domestic abuse workers from Change, Grow, Live (CGL), as part of The Portal which provides help and support for survivors of domestic and sexual violence and abuse in Brighton and Hove and East Sussex .
The Domestic Abuse Surgery offers people an initial 30 minute session to:
Provide a simple, safe and effective gateway to care pathway to support
Provide a service for hard to reach groups who may not access traditional care pathways (including BME ( Black, Minority, Ethnic,) LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender ) and male victim/survivors)
Increase opportunities for earlier intervention, and therefore reduce the likelihood of escalation
Increase confidence to speak about domestic abuse and access support.
Anyone affected by domestic or sexual abuse or violence can visit the website www.theportal.org.uk and find to find out more about the help, advice and support available.
Alternatively call The Portal Freephone number 0300 323 9985 or email info@theportal.org.uk.
Professionals can also contact The Portal for advice and information, as well as to make a referral. ‘Guidance for Professionals’ and ‘The Portal Referral Form’ are available at theportal.org.uk/form/
Update from the District and Borough Community Safety Partnerships
Safer Hastings Partnership
The Safer Hastings Partnership (SHP) continues to develop a range of initiatives, and fosters good relations between the constituent partner agencies set up to tackle crime, disorder and fear. Senior managers from across the partnership continue to develop initiatives to address the antisocial behaviour aspects of street drinking, youth ASB, rough sleepers and the detritus left from the drug using community across the Borough.
One recent development is the blocking of a redundant open stairwell on the seafront, which used to service one of the underground car parks. It was used by many as an ‘overflow toilet’ and litter dump. This area, the Sunken Gardens, is Grade 2 listed. The SHP has recently managed to redesign the area and extend the flower beds, removing the nuisance ASB and repugnant summer smells.
A small number of alleys are to be gated over the next few months, pending residents consent, all of which harbour drug-related litter, fly-tipping and provide ideal spots for ASB and fly-tipping. One is to be gated in partnership with Brighton University (more information to follow in the next bulletin).
Hastings has also become the only Local Alcohol Action Area in Sussex, more information at www.hastings.gov.uk
2017 continues to include new challenges and issues that the SHP will face. All partners and residents will help to improve the Borough and address local community safety issues as and when they arise.
Click on the image below to see the latest Surrey and Sussex Cyber Crime Unit weekly news bulletins.
Other news
Armed Forces Network
The Sussex and Kent and Medway Armed Forces Network bring together organisations serving the public to help make sure people with a Forces background are able to get help. The Armed Forces Networks, which includes members from NHS organisations, the Ministry of Defence, police, local authorities, Armed Forces Reservists as well as charities and other local organisations, aims to raise awareness of the help that is available.
Members have named people within their organisations which champion the causes of those currently or formerly in the military. They proved training and education for staff and act as a first point of contact for people from the Forces and help them navigate the various systems.
All members have signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant, a national agreement with the principle that no one should suffer a disadvantage as a result of their military experience.
Tuesday 7th February is Safer Internet Day 2017. This will bring people together across the world to celebrate the positive power of the internet.
This year the global theme for the day is 'Be the Change: Unite for a better internet', which explores the power of image - both for positive and negative - in digital youth culture.
For more information, please click on the image above.
Other Useful Resources
Hate crime: What it is and how to support victims and witnesses
This Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have produced an informative guide about hate crime and how to help those who may be victims of this kind of offending behaviour.
It is designed for people working in voluntary organisations, as well as frontline staff in health, housing or social welfare – in fact anyone who might be the first to hear about an incident.
Click on the image above
Our current priorities for 2016-17
Domestic Violence & Abuse, and Stalking Prevent and Hate Crime Road Safety Rape & Sexual violence, and abuse Street Communities Serious Organised Crime
Contact Us:
01323 466549 (Contact us by telephone for secure encrypted email details)
m your mobile phone.
Anyone affected by domestic or sexual abuse or violence can visit the website 
organisations serving the public to help make sure people with a Forces background are able to get help. The Armed Forces Networks, which includes members from NHS organisations, the Ministry of Defence, police, local authorities, Armed Forces Reservists as well as charities and other local organisations, aims to raise awareness of the help that is available.
