Northern Ireland

Almost half of older people's fears of crime have increased, in past two years, in Northern Ireland

New figures released by the Northern Ireland Pensioners Parliament have prompted the relaunch of a revised and updated version of the ‘Feel Safe’ guide for older people. Photographed with DOJ Permanent Secretary Nick Perry are Valerie Adams and Michael Monaghan from Age Sector Platform.
New figures released by the Northern Ireland Pensioners Parliament have prompted the relaunch of a revised and updated version of the ‘Feel Safe’ guide for older people. Photographed with DOJ Permanent Secretary Nick Perry are Valerie Adams an New figures released by the Northern Ireland Pensioners Parliament have prompted the relaunch of a revised and updated version of the ‘Feel Safe’ guide for older people. Photographed with DOJ Permanent Secretary Nick Perry are Valerie Adams and Michael Monaghan from Age Sector Platform.

Almost half of older people in Northern Ireland are more fearful of becoming a victim of crime than two years ago.

Between March and June 2018, Age Sector Platform (ASP) held 11 local Pensioners Parliaments - one in each council area. With 900 people in attendance, 42 percent said their fears of crime had increased in the past two years.

This finding has prompted the update and relaunch of a 'Feel Safe' guide for older people today. The guide, which was first published in 2015, has been updated to include information about new schemes like 'Quick Check 101' and the 'Nominated Neighbour scheme'; whilst also including tips on how older people can become more ‘scamwise.’

Valerie Adams from ASP said: "When an older person becomes a victim of crime it can have a much longer lasting effect on them and older people within their local community. Anything we can do to help older people protect themselves from becoming victims in the first place will be time well spent.

“The updated Feel Safe guide is a fantastic resource for older people and it’s very easily read and digested. It’s unique in that it has been developed for older people by older people and features crime prevention advice on everything from burglary to internet crime; information on what to expect from the police, and details of organisations that support older people who feel fearful or have become victims of crime.”

The Department of Justice provided support to ASP to update and reprint new copies of the guide.

Permanent Secretary Nick Perry, said: “We strive to have a community where everyone respects the law and each other. The work of organisations such as Age Sector Platform helps us in our aim.

"I congratulate everyone involved in the production of the ‘Feel Safe’ guide which offers advice and guidance to help older people feel safe in their home and community.”