AQW 40167/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 12/12/2014
Answered On Date: 18/12/2014
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Justice how his Department is working with the Commissioner for Older People for Northern Ireland to address levels of crime against older people.

Answer:

DOJ officials met with representatives from the Commissioner for Older People’s office in July 2012 to take their views on the outcomes for older people contained in the Community Safety Strategy 2012-2017 and to invite a nominee to sit on the Delivery Group responsible for those outcomes. Whilst not in a position to take up the offer of a nominee at that time, my officials continue to liaise with the Commissioner’s staff on related issues arising as required.

I have personally met with the Commissioner, including in March 2013, when I met with her and a number of stakeholders to discuss the Department’s performance on community safety issues. In June this year, I met with the Commissioner to discuss her report ‘Protecting our Older People in Northern Ireland: A Call for Adult Safeguarding Legislation’ which considered the adequacy and effectiveness of the law in protecting older people from abuse.

The Policing Plan 2014-2017 includes an outcome to improve services to vulnerable groups, one of which is older people, and contains a specific measure which states ‘In partnership with PCSPs and key stakeholders, to reduce the number of burglaries and robberies where older people are victims’. Linked to this is the measure to increase the outcome rate for domestic burglary by 2%. In line with the Policing Plan, PCSPs deliver a range of initiatives aimed at tackling crime against older people and they engage with the Commissioner in relation to this where relevant. For example, the Commissioner has been the principle speaker at the Newtownards PCSP funded AGENDA (Age North Down and Ards) Annual General Meeting for the last two years, addressing policing and safety concerns of older people. Also, in partnership with Belfast City Council’s Age Friendly Team, Belfast PCSP links directly with the Commissioner’s Office to develop age friendly initiatives and assist the delivery of the Age Friendly Strategy.