Charities team up with police to protect elderly from crime
Charities are working with Police Scotland in a bid to protect vulnerable elderly people from crime.
It comes after chief constable Phil Gormley said helping elderly victims of doorstep and telephone scammers was taking up more police time than ever before.
Tracing missing people with dementia, meanwhile, was said to be a “routine” job for officers.
Mr Gormley has now called for a joined-up approach between the force and other agencies to better understand the needs of Scotland’s ageing population and the extra demands being placed on public services as a result.
These concerns from the chief constable also show the importance of continuing the drive to improve care services
Speaking to the Herald, he said: “Dementia is a very significant issue. If you talk to police and they will frequently bring up this issue, one that absorbs a lot of their time. I think we have a legitimate role.
“We have the ability to find people. But there is a broader challenge of supporting an ageing population and we should ask if we are doing other people’s jobs.”
Police Scotland is now working with professionals from Alzheimer Scotland to ensure its officers understand the issues faced by people with dementia.
Jim Pearson, the charity’s director, said: “The police play a particularly important role because some people with dementia may be at a higher risk of becoming victims of crime such as scams or doorstep crime, or be at greater risk of becoming disorientated and lost.
“Police officers with a better understanding of dementia are better able to respond to the needs of people with dementia in the communities in which they work.”
Age Scotland has also worked with the force to raise awareness among elderly people about scammers.
A spokesman said: “Increasing pressures on police resources shows the need for more work and a collaborative approach to reduce the risks of older people being successfully targeted by scammers.
“These concerns from the chief constable also show the importance of continuing the drive to improve care services and living environments for people with dementia at the same time as increasing understanding among police officers and staff of how to support people with the condition.
“But it is also important to recognise that older people are not simply a burden on police services but across Scotland play an important role in making our communities safer, through volunteering, taking part in initiatives such as neighbourhood watch schemes, and often being carers themselves.”
