Burglary
Distraction Burglary Taskforce Good Practice Guide
The Distraction Burglary Taskforce is a partnership covering local and national government, the police, business and the voluntary sector. It is sponsored by the Home Office, Water UK (and its constituent members) the Electricity Association, BT and British Gas.
The Good Practice Guide is a tool kit which was been produced by the Distraction Burglary Taskforce and launched in October 2001. The guide is aimed at all practitioners dealing with older and vulnerable people, providing them with advice and ‘tools’ specially developed to reduce the numbers of distraction burglaries. The guide contains three elements, a manual containing written material about distraction burglary, two videos, one aimed at practitioners and the other for older people, and a number of ‘gadgets’ which can be used to make vulnerable people safer from these offences. 7,000 guides have been issued to crime and disorder partnerships, the police, local authorities, utility companies and voluntary organisations such as Help the Aged, Age Concern and Neighbourhood Watch. The guide is also available on this website.
The national launch was followed by 12 regional conferences during November and December 2001, (West Midlands 2/11, North East 9/11, London 13/11, Yorks and Humber 22/11, South Wales 3/12, North Wales 19/11, other dates to be notified). The aims of the conferences were to explain the work of the taskforce, how to use the guide and encourage partners to cascade the information to as wide an audience as possible.
There will be no charge for the Good Practice Guide or the regional conferences.
The taskforce has also produced publicity using the "Stop Chain Check" message, including bogus callers leaflets, posters and display stands for conferences (which may be borrowed from the respective Government Offices for the Regions).
Feedback
The Distraction Burglary Taskforce are keen to hear from practitioners who have used the guide. They'd be grateful if you could spare 2-3 minutes to complete a short questionnaire on the effectiveness of the Good Practice Guide.
Last update: Wednesday, September 13, 2006