CASE STUDY: Understanding disabled people’s fear
of crime in Canterbury
To use a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach
by disabled people, for disabled people to investigate
and understand the fear of crime for people with
disabilities within the Canterbury District.
The central philosophy of the PAR project is that it
is through direct participation that people's expert
knowledge of their own lives and experiences is
translated into 'official' knowledge, and that it is
through action that research enables people to become
empowered and bring about social change.
For more information about the project contact Trevor
Kennett on 01227 862522 or trevor.kennett@canterbury.gov.uk
CASE STUDY: Metropolitan Police training on mental
health legislation
Hillingdon Social Services has provided a training
programme for Metropolitan Police officers in the
borough aimed at raising awareness of the legislation
relating to the care and protection of people with
mental health problems.
Two hundred uniformed officers, up to the rank of
Chief Inspector, attended the first series of half day
sessions held in Hillingdon. The course covered a range
of issues including:
- the legal definitions of 'mental disorder', under
the Mental Health Act 1983.
- police powers to remove persons believed to be
suffering from mental disorder from a public place
to a place of safety.
- the roles of doctors, psychiatrists, approved
social workers and police in assessing people with
mental health problems.
- the rights of people being assessed.
- the extreme distress people with mental disorders
and their families face, especially where police
need to be involved in an assessment leading to
compulsory admission to hospital.
CASE STUDY: Strathclyde Police’s roadshow for
Disabled Residents Including the Vulnerable and Elderly
(DRIVE).
The ‘DRIVE’ roadshow was launched by Strathclyde
police to reduce the fear of crime for the elderly and
vulnerable in the area by providing accurate information
about crime and advice on how to keep safe on the
streets and in their homes.
The initiative was a joint project between officers
from the Community Safety Department at Motherwell
Police Office and the Motherwell Disability Forum.
As well as getting advice on how to deal with bogus
callers and suspicious strangers and information on
basic self-defence techniques, participants were also
given a free personal attack alarm and a property
marking kit, which makes it easier to identify any
stolen goods.
