Operation ‘Sponge Pudding’ delivers reassurance to residents

Hertfordshire Constabulary has been pioneering a new partnership with a ‘meals on wheels’ service to reach the potentially vulnerable and isolated in the community.

Launched earlier this year, police community support officers (PCSOs) Kim Ashworth and Katie Braham from the Berkhamsted safer neighbourhood team have been accompanying delivery drivers from the Community Meals team to visit recipients of the service in the area to ensure they are safe in their homes.

During the visit, the PCSO will introduce themself, carry out a visual audit of the property to ensure it has adequate security and suggest a follow-up visit from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) for a free home fire safety check to be carried out.

In some cases, officers have then visited their neighbours to encourage neighbourliness, highlight the need to look out for suspicious behaviour and encourage them to sign up to Neighbourhood Watch.

All 60 recipients of the service have received a visit from the Berkhamsted safer neighbourhood team. Over a dozen have since received follow-up visits from HFRS, which has given invaluable fire safety advice and checked smoke alarms, with a number of people having new smoke alarms fitted free of charge.

The team from HFRS has also given fire safety talks to residents in nearby sheltered housing complexes who were all offered individual fire safety checks. Subsequently, over 60 residents will receive a free home fire safety check.

Neighbourhood Sergeant for Berkhamstead, Pete Huffer said: “We’ve had excellent feedback from the people that have been visited, many of whom aren’t able to get out and about and don’t get to meet their local policing team so it’s a way for us to meet with them, ensure they are safe and feel able to contact us if they have concerns.

“We know that those who are older and isolated can be more vulnerable to doorstep crime, such as distraction burglary and rogue traders, and the area has historically been hit with this crime. So this is why we devised Operation Sponge Pudding – to reach those who may be vulnerable in the community we serve, raise awareness of certain types of crime and ensure they are better protected, by taking simple steps such as ensuring they remember to lock their doors.”

Sgt Huffer added: “This project would not have been possible without the great support from Community Meals who are also passionate about keeping people safe and secure in their homes. The drivers are the eyes and ears of our community so they are vitally important in helping us and they’ll keep us informed if they see any changes regarding a person’s welfare or security.

“Although we’ve visited everyone, we won’t stop here. We’ll continue to spend time on a fortnightly basis going out with Community Meals to carry out follow-up visits and arrange to meet with any new customers.”

Cllr Richard Thake, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “Our fire officers are committed to working with the safer neighbourhood team to keep residents safe. We carry out fire safety checks, advise residents on planning escape routes as well as check and fit free smoke alarms where needed. These simple things could make all the difference in a fire.”