Bobby Van

The Bobby Van is a registered charity which helps disadvantaged and elderly people when fearing or having been a victim of crime in their own home.... Bulford Parish Council is an ardent supporter of this very worthwhile charity....... do you know of anyone who might need their help? Call them on 01225 794652 Chippenham Police Station Wood Lane Chippenham Wiltshire SN15 3DH Telephone 01225 794652 E-mail bobbyvan@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk Website: www.wiltshirebobbyvan.org.uk So what do they do exactly? Burglary can have a devastating affect upon the victim. This is particularly true when the victim of the crime is old, vulnerable or disadvantaged. The fear of crime among the older members of society is very real. In 1993 Nottinghamshire Constabulary introduced an initiative designed to fight the problem. With the support of the McCarthy Foundation a scheme called S.A.F.E. was established which provided immediate and practical help to the victims of burglary. The success of the operation was immediately apparent. In its first year (1995) the number of burglaries fell by 8% and in the second year by 17%. At least as significant was the fact that there were no repeat burglaries. A research study into the efficacy of the scheme was conducted by Nottingham Trent University and reported that S.A.F.E. was an unequivocal success. As a result of the S.A.F.E. experience it was decided that the scheme should be expanded to embrace all the Police Forces in England and Wales which indicated a desire to participate. Wiltshire was the first force in England to operate a van, which is now known as The Bobby Van. The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust was established in 1998 to fund and direct the project. The Bobby Van The Bobby operation consists of suitably modified vans, equipped with the relevant tools and carrying locks and the necessary security materials to fully secure a property. They are manned by trained carpenters/lockfitters who are also trained as Crime Reduction Officers (CROs). The vans resemble police vehicles and the operators wear a uniform that resembles that worn by police officers and carry identification documents issued by the police to engender confidence in the mind of the victim. When a burglary is reported (or when a person at risk is identified) the first officer who attends the scene of the crime (or a SWDVIP outworker) will assess the situation and consider whether the case qualifies for a visit by Bobby. To qualify a victim will generally be elderly, in some way vulnerable, disadvantaged or potentially at risk of domestic violence and not affluent. A report is passed to the Bobby coordinators, who prioritise the work of the vans. A Bobby Van will be dispatched to the victim’s home at a prearranged time. On arrival the operator will make the house completely secure using door and window locks, safety chains and other security devices as recommended by the Home Office. The operator will also provide advice on home security and information about other agencies (Age Concern, Help the Aged, Victim Support etc) which may be able to offer further help. The coordinators also accept referrals from other agencies where it is considered that the need for security support exists. The services of the Bobby Van Trust are free of charge to the recipient. A simple phone call to arrange an appointment can sometimes mean a 20 minute impromptu “counselling” session to put the client's mind at rest, or they may just be lonely and want someone to talk to. Bobby operators spend between 30 minutes and 4 hours with a client, much of which time is spent in talking to them, assessing their needs and their fears and helping them to realise that the measures taken will make them safe. A 30 minute appointment is rare and tends to be to fit a doorchain and/or viewer for someone who has already attended one of their security talks. On average, they spend about 2 hours with each client.