Top Cop Gives A Personal Pledge On OAP Safety

A police chief has given his “absolute assurance” that elder-ly people will not suffer from the loss of an OAP care project. Superintendent David Chinchen defended the decision of Southwark police and council bosses to axe the borough’s Elderly Care Project. It was brought in four years ago to support vulnerable pensioners and cut crimes such as distraction burglaries. Rather than shelving successful aspects of the scheme, Supt Chinchen says its work will now fall under the day-to-day duties of a range of police units. He denied the “mainstreaming” drive would affect the service given to elderly victims of crime.

Supt Chinchen, who heads joint council and police body the Safer Southwark Partnership (SSP), said: “I cannot emphasise enough that the SSP is intent on continuing work that supports the elderly in the borough.

“I and others in senior positions within the police and the SSP are acutely aware of the concerns of the elderly with regard to community safety. You have my absolute assurance that the good work developed through this project will continue to be delivered.”

He said the duties of the Elderly Care Project would be taken on by specialist crime prevention officers and ward-based safer neighbourhood teams.

Ian Adams, of Southwark Pensioners Centre, said the three-strong Elderly Care Project team, based in Camberwell, had won admirers for its “enterprise and commitment”.

He added: “I’m not confident this will be replicated by the various wardens and crime prevention officers.”