Learn more about financial abuse this National Safeguarding Adults Week
During this year’s National Safeguarding Adults Week (16 to 22 November), the Essex Safeguarding Adults Board (ESAB) are encouraging Essex residents to improve their understanding of financial abuse and the importance to report it, if they, or someone they know, are experiencing it.
National Safeguarding Adults Week was launched in 2018 by the Ann Craft Trust, who have continued to facilitate awareness raising, during a week in November.
This year, ESAB will be raising awareness of financial abuse through social media by sharing useful information and resources, in order to help people to be aware of the signs of financial abuse and where to report their concerns, focusing predominantly on ‘Doorstep Crime’ and economic abuse.
Deborah Stuart-Angus, the Essex Safeguarding Adult Board’s Independent Chair said: “We welcome supporting this annual campaign to raise awareness of financial and economic abuse and safeguarding adults with care and support needs. It is an important part of the delivery of our strategic priorities. Our overall aim as a Board is to work together in partnership, to protect adults with care and support needs, who are, or maybe, at risk of abuse or neglect, to enable and empower them to live their lives in safety.”
Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “A key priority of my Police and Crime Plan is to ensure that we protect vulnerable people from harm. The Safeguarding Adults Board does a great job in sharing these useful messages, and as a key partner we want to do everything we can to help spread the word. Please share these messages to your own older relatives and friends who may be at risk so we can help spread awareness.”
Councillor John Spence, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said: “The abuse and neglect of individuals that give rise to safeguarding concerns present themselves in a myriad of ways. Scams and rogue trading are widely reported as being a particular issue targeting vulnerable people in the county with 242 incidents of ‘Doorstep Crime’ being reported to Essex Trading Standards over a 2 year period. Whilst not exclusively targeted at elderly people, the average age of a cold-caller victim is 75yrs old, with the majority of victims living alone. It is hugely important we all stay vigilant to the signs and always report any concerns we may have, that someone we know is experiencing financial abuse.”
In support of the awareness raising event, Essex Police will be leading on the community engagement scheme ‘Street Weeks, in the area of Thurrock, which is an initiative aiming to increase awareness, prevention and the detection of financial abuse.
Shaun Kane, Detective Chief Inspector, Essex Police said: “Essex Police are pleased to be able to support the campaign again this year. Our police and partnership action is continuous in targeting those who commit financial abuse related crimes. Often these crimes are under reported and we encourage the public to be active in speaking up if they are suspicious crimes such as rogue trading and economic abuse are going on. Together we can make communities safer and most importantly, feel safer, by raising awareness and providing safeguarding to those who are vulnerable or feel vulnerable. We all have a part to play in keeping people safe, even more so during such challenging times that we currently face.”
Visit the campaign webpage at www.essexsab.org.uk/NSAW2020