Welcome from the team

Friends Against Scams is a National Trading Standards Scams Team initiative which aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by empowering communities to… ‘Take a Stand Against Scams.’

Scams affect the lives of millions of people across the UK. People who are scammed often experience loneliness, shame and social isolation. 

Friends Against Scams aims to inspire action, highlight the scale of the problem, change the perceptions of why people fall victim to scams and make scams a local, regional and national topic.

By attending a Friends Against Scams awareness session or completing the online learning, anyone can learn about the different types of scams and how to spot and support a victim. With increased knowledge and awareness, people can make scams part of everyday conversation with their family, friends and neighbours, which will enable them to protect themselves and others from scams.

Those who participate in the sessions/online learning will become a Friend Against Scams and will be encouraged to put their knowledge to use in their local communities.

For more information about Friends Against Scams and to complete the online awareness session, please visit www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk.

You can also register on the website to join face-to-face group sessions which are being held on the 7th and 28th November in Lewes and Eastbourne respectively.

The Think Protect Connect toolkit aims to provide schools and other youth settings with a range of innovative resources to safeguard children and young people from online radicalisation and extremism.

Dave Law, Prevent Project Officer at the Safer East Sussex Team has started to develop a version of the Think Protect Connect toolkit to a youth group in Sidley, Bexhill who meet on Thursday evenings.

This particular group has a focus on developing  media skills and is run by a local company DigIT Media, which is funded through the Heart Of Sidley project. The young people are filming and editing the 15 min sessions that Dave provides over the 6 weeks and will be focusing on a short interactive drama production called ‘The Bus’. This is a study using freeze framing techniques involving the young people as participants. They can explore the different roles played by the victim, perpetrators and bystanders.

The concept is to  change the balance of a hate crime incident in favour of the victim without putting yourself at risk and then taking appropriate reporting action. This short drama will then be filmed by the young people as a potential resource for informing their peer group.

Dave is hoping that the video could be used as a learning tool or at least be the basis for further development. Dave’s experience is that young people are always very interested in the products made by others of a similar age grouping.

This is a positive example of joint working in the community.

For more information on Think Protect Connect toolkit, please click here

The 16 Days of Action for the Elimination of Violence against Women run from 25th November (the UN International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women) to the 10th December (Human Rights Day).

Over 16 days, a range of agencies, groups and individuals are coming together to work to end all forms of violence against women. This includes awareness raising, making sure people know where to go for help and support, sharing stories about people's experiences, recovery and work, as well as hosting a comedy night to raise funds for local services.

The 16 Days of Action also include other significant dates like World Aids Day (1st December), as well as the White Ribbon Campaign, which calls on men to make a pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about violence and abuse.

Please click here for further information.

Thousands of people around the world are making a commitment to play their part in standing up to condemn violence against women.

Join the White Ribbon Campaign by making a personal pledge never to commit, condone, or remain silent about men's violence against women in all its forms.

Click on the image below for more details:


MARAC Victim Leaflet

There is a new MARAC Victim Leaflet which professionals can use to explain the MARAC process and what will happen when they are making a referral. If it is safe to do so, someone being referred to the MARAC may want a printed copy of this leaflet or they could access it online.

 

• Ensure that front line staff are aware that it is best practice to speak to a victim about a referral to the MARAC. In cases where the victim is either not aware or has not consented, this should be indicated on the referral form
• Ensure that front line staff are aware of the referral criteria (including ‘escalation’) so cases that meet the MARAC threshold are identified and referred
• Complete all the fields on the MARAC referral form when referring a ‘repeat’ cases
• Complete accurate research ahead of the meeting (MARAC representatives could use the local ‘MARAC research template’)
• Provide an update on the status of actions following the meeting (MARAC representatives should complete and return the ‘action tracker’ following the meeting).

Click here for information on the MARAC, including practitioner guidance, referral forms, templates and a leaflet for victim.

The Safer East Sussex Team can provide 90 minute briefing sessions on the DASH risk identification tool or the MARAC.

For further information click here or contact josi.enright@eastsussex.gov.uk.

Street community issues have become the number one priority in Hastings.

Senior managers form across East Sussex,  the PCC and the local MP Amber Rudd, who happens also to be the Home Secretary, are working with the Safer Hastings Partnership 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.

Consultation is now immanent to gain support for the gating, using Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) of a small number of footpaths/ alleyways that are experiencing ASB related nuisance, especially fly-tipping and drug related litter. One alley has had on-going ASB for more than five years.

The Safer Hastings Partnership and Safer Rother Partnership held their second trial merger meeting in  October. This  meeting  focused on shared priorities in addition to the county priority setting event in late September.

On bonfire night and Halloween, antisocial behaviour levels will be closely monitored and actions will be implemented should anything serious occur during this period.
 

Plans are also underway to mark the White Ribbon Day (25th November) campaign, to ensure awareness is maintained about reducing the levels of domestic violence