Prevention
Preventing or reducing demand for public services is essential at a time when resources are reducing so dramatically. The £56m of savings generated by our projects often accrue to the wider public sector and help demonstrate the case for a silo-free place-based approach to future financial planning.
Total Home Safety Initiative
This targeted campaign has exceeded expectations. It aims to raise the confidence of the most vulnerable people in what have been identified as some of the most vulnerable communities in the region. Partner agencies including Durham Constabulary and County Durham & Darlington FRS, have created information packs and home safety packages in response to a 'total home safety' risk assessment. A referral programme has been established, and a communication strategy in place to reassure residents about home safety. Home Fire Safety Assessments are being provided to domestic homes, security and safety equipment installed and support, advice and signposting to other services and grants provided.
Specialised training programmes will be provided for police and FRS teams to support the project. Reduced numbers of house burglaries and domestic fires can generate efficiency savings of over £200,000 in the next three years through reduced response costs, health care, criminal justices and victims' services.
Download a case study (January 2011)
Download a presentation about the project (October 2010)
Regional Publicity
Due to the excellent communication strategy put in place early on, there has been a great deal of local publicity around this project. We are keen to build on this given that the project is gaining national interest. Some examples of local publicity can be seen below:
Feature in Safer Durham Partnership newsletter Summer 2010 here
Feature in Durham County News Sep'Oct 2010 here
Feature in County Durham Carers' Echo July 2010 here
Elected members' update October 2010 here
Feature in Safer Durham Partnership newsletter Autimn 2010 here
For more information, contact
Graham McArdle, Durham County Council, 0191 370 8737 email: Graham.McArdle@durham.gov.uk
Gary Eden, County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service, 07785 700 757 email: geden@ddfire.gov.uk
