Newsletter Nos.21 - March 2014.

The latest news on community safety issues in the Scottish Borders

SKILL FOR LIFE

Innovative new scheme aims to reduce young driver fatalities in Scottish Borders

A total of 400 young drivers will get the chance to improve their driving skills and make the Borders roads safer thanks to a Scottish Borders Council backed scheme.

SBC has committed £48,000 to provide free of charge advanced driver training for 17 to 25 year olds in the Scottish Borders through the Institute of Advanced Motorists’ (IAM) Skill for Life programme.

It is hoped hundreds of 17 to 25 year olds will take part over the two-year duration of the programme to enhance their driving skills and cut the number of young drivers being killed and seriously injured on the region’s roads.

Free Demo day Sunday 23 March (10am to 3pm).

The scheme is supported by former British Touring Car Champion John Cleland, and young motorists are encouraged to attend a driver demo day held at his showroom in Galashiels on Sunday 23 March As well as getting a free health check for their vehicle by Clelands, youngsters will be able to get a demonstration drive and ask experts questions about the course, which normally costs £139.

Statistics from Road Safety GB show an 18-year-old is six times more likely of being involved in a crash than their parents, while 99 per cent of those who have completed the IAM course said it improved their driving.

Chief Inspector Kenny Simpson, who is also the Council’s Safer Communities Team Manager, said: “SBC is one of the first local authorities in Scotland to offer free sponsorship for 17 to 25 year olds through IAM’s Skill for Life programme.This is a great opportunity to learn skills which offer long term benefits not only to the driver but to the Borders community”.

“There are far too many people killed or seriously injured on our roads and unfortunately young people account for approximately 20-25 per cent of these.We would encourage any young driver to come along to the demo day and find out more about Skill for Life and thereafter consider applying for this fantastic opportunity.”

Over 400 people are injured in road accidents each year on Scottish Borders roads. The annual average is 9 people killed, 80 seriously hurt and 345 slightly injured. The estimated annual cost of these injuries is £35.7 million per year. (Estimated annual cost of young driver accidents is around £7.5 million).

(Skill for Life Continued)

Councillor Donald Moffat, SBC’s Executive Member for Community Safety, said: “I am delighted SBC is supporting young people to take the Skill for Life programme in the region.The figures all show young drivers are particularly at risk of experiencing a crash, so anything we can do to give them more knowledge and make our roads safer has to be welcomed.”

As well as improving skills, the Skill for Life programme also provides potential reduction in car insurance and 12 months free RAC roadside and recovery assistance.

Any 17 to 25 year old qualified driver who lives in the Scottish Borders can sign up to Skill for Life by phoning 0845 126 8600.

For more information contact the safer communities team

CITIZENS ADVICE OUTREACH PROGRAMME

A huge increase in the number of people contacting Citizens Advice Bureau as a result of welfare reforms has prompted the setting up of an outreach service. Since welfare reform started to be introduced last year there has been a 68% increase in the number of Roxburgh and Berwickshire CAB clients seeking help with Employment and Support Allowance and an 83% increase in clients wanting advice about job-seeking conditions, sanctions and hardship payments.

Aware that the welfare changes were having a serious impact in the region Roxburgh Berwickshire CAB applied for major funding from the Big Lottery to help them extend their current sessions at Duns, Eyemouth, Kelso and Hawick, to outreach sessions to towns and villages across the region

and develop a Home Visiting Referral Service in partnership with other agencies.

For more information Contact the CAB at Duns on 01361 883340

LOCATION / DAY & TIME / MARCH 2014 / APRIL 2014
HAWICK-BURNFOOT
COMMUNITY CENTRE / FRIDAY 10am-12pm / 28.03.14 / 11.04.14
25.04.14
JEDBURGH
HEALTH CENTRE / WEDNESDAY 1.30pm-3.00pm / 26.03.14 / 09.04.14
23.04.14
NEWCASTLETON
HEALTH CENTRE / MONDAY 2.00pm – 3.30pm / 24.03.14 / 07.04.14
21.04.14
RESTON
VILLAGE HALL / MONDAY
9.30am-11.30am / 17.03.14
31.03.14 / 14.04.14
28.04.14
GREENLAW
MEDICAL PRACTICE / TUESDAY 9.30am-11.30am / 18.03.14 / 01.04.14
15.04.14 29.04.14

E CIGS - HAZARDOUS TO CHILDREN?

A new hazard for children is sweet-tasting, highly toxic liquid nicotine being sold as e-cigarette refills – if a toddler opens an e-cigarette or

E-cigarette refill there is a potential that they could die from ingesting a very small amount of liquid.

Some e-cigarette refills are formulated with sweet smelling chemicals (Cherry, Strawberry Vanilla flavoured) and packaged in brightly coloured tubes that could appear attractive to young children.

This potential toxicity concern has been highlighted locally bytwo recent admissions to the Children’s Hospital Emergency Department inBelfast following ingestion of liquid from e-cigarettes.

Since e-cigarette refills are not medicinal products they may not be child proof and the health warnings from the tobacco manufacturers may not always be sufficient to highlight the seriousness of the potential risk, particularly to children. Nicotine can be highly toxic, particularly in children or infants, if enough is consumed. It is highlytoxic by ingestion, inhalation and skin contact. The fatal dose has been estimated to be as little as 40mg (i.e. less than 2mL of some strength of liquid refills) of nicotine in an adult. Indeed just a few milligrams of nicotine have caused severe symptoms. The fatal dose in a child would be expected to be even less. Nicotine can be very rapidly absorbed with central nervous system, neuromuscular and autonomic features.

The following articles provide more information on E Cigs:–

KEEP REFILLS OUT OF SIGHT AND OUT OF REACH OF YOUNGCHILDREN

The Electrical Safety Council is issuing advice to users of e-cigarettes following a number of reports of chargers exploding whilst in use. The charity, along with the Trading Standards Institute (TSI), has issued the following guidance for charging e-cigarettes whilst they look more closely at the problem:

  • Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer carefully
  • Heed any warnings supplied with the product
  • Ensure that e-cigarettes are not left charging for long periods of time
  • Do not leave e-cigarettes plugged in overnight or whilst you are out of the house
  • Look for the CE mark that indicates chargers comply with European Safety standards

BREAKING THE CYCLE

Crimestoppers UK has recently developed an interactive teaching resource for teachers and professionals working with 11-16 year olds.

"Breaking the Cycle" will take students through two different crime scenarios and will give them the option to decide and debate the outcomes. Tackling grooming and gun crime, this interactive resource aims to educate young people on these issues and how they can pass on information anonymously via Fearless.org. "Breaking the Cycle" can be accessed for FREE from the website:

OUT OF YOUR HANDS

New school resource to teach children about mobile phone security and fraud awareness

The first specialised teaching resources aimed at educating young people about mobile phone crime, online security and the threat of fraud have been launched by the Telecommunications UK Fraud Forum and Financial Fraud Action UK.

Out of Your Hands is a tailored set of teaching resources aimed at primary and secondary school pupils which bring to life the distinction between risky and protective behaviour, while placing advice in an educational context that can support teachers.

Out of Your Handsresource is available for free at

The new resources include new materials for PSHE, ICT, Maths, Business Studies, English and Drama, featuring example scenarios of typical fraud scams and guidance on how to stay safe when making online transactions, as well as helping young people consider the risks of sharing their personal information with others.

Stay Safe Online With DIGI DAN

Police Scotlandhaslaunched a new Stay Safe Online campaign to help children, parents, teachers and carers improve their knowledge and understanding of how to keep children safe while they are online. Backed by radio adverts, Stay Safe Online will provide children with the information they need. “Digi Dan’s Top Tips” will be available on the website digidan.co.uk. The website includes a quiz for youngsters and there is a DigiDan'sibook to download and keep his online safety tips.

The campaign targets two age groups:

  • The younger group, from 9-12 years old will receive ten top tips from a cartoon character, Digi Dan, who is an internet explorer and knows everything about staying safe online.
  • Older children will receive advice about keeping safe online including tips on password security, social media posting, sexting, how to deal with inappropriate pictures and who to contact for help.

Any child who feels at risk or is worried should speak to a parent, guardian or teacher or can phone Police Scotland on 101 or Childline on 0800 1111.”

SEXTING

Is youth work setting ready to explore the issue?

As theNSPCC and TV programme Hollyoaks start a new campaign on the issue ofsextingthiscould be the opportunity for your youth work setting to get ready to embrace the learning opportunities this brings.

Tothat end, YouthLink Scotland has produced a paper and reflective questions to assist youth workers to tackle the topic.

Download a copyhere. Contact: Heather McVey, phone: 0131 313 2488 [e-mail]

CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING?

ChildLine's report reveals what was affecting children and young people in 2013. During 2012/13, ChildLine counselled 278,886 children and young people - the report; 'Can I Tell You Something' is about them and their experiences of life in the UK today. Figures from the report show an alarming increase in children and young people contacting ChildLine for support on high risk issues.. The report includes findings related to:

  • Online bullying (or cyber bullying) - a rapidly growing concern amongst young people - with ChildLine reporting an 87% rise in contact relates to the issue. Young people have told ChildLine that the 24 hour nature of online bullying means thereis no escape and can lead to very serious feelings of isolation, low self-esteem andin a few desperate cases, even suicide.
  • Self-harm - the report shows a significant increase in the number of contacts about self-harm for the second year running, with the number of young people contacting ChildLine about self-harm up by 41% (compared to 2011/12). Where age was known, 70% of the contacts received about self-harm came from young people aged 12-15.
  • Suicide - there has been a 33% increase in young people talking about suicidal thoughts and feelings. For 16-18 year olds, suicide was the third most common reason to contact ChildLine. While 17 year olds are the age group most commonly affected by issues relating to suicide, the biggest increase year-on-year has been among 12-15 year olds. [website]

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN:

ONE-THIRD OF EU WOMEN AFFECTED

About a third of all women in the EU have experienced either physical or sexual violence since the age of 15, according to a survey by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. The biggest survey conducted on the subjectbased on interviews with 42,000 women.

The report calls on EU countries to treat domestic violence as a public, not a private issue.

Key findings;

  • One in 10 women has experienced some form of sexual violence since the age of 15.
  • One in 20 has been raped
  • 22% had suffered from physical or sexual violence by a partner, but that 67% did not report the most serious incidents of domestic violence to the police.
  • 18% of women said they had been the victims of stalking since the age of 15,
  • 55% said they had been sexually harassed, often in the workplace.

It noted that young women as a group "are particularly vulnerable to victimisation".

The countries where women reported the highest number of incidences of physical and sexual violence were

  • Denmark (52%), Finland (47%) and Sweden (46%), countries that are often commended for gender equality.
  • The UK and France reported the fifth highest number with 44%
  • The lowest incidences of violence were reported in Poland with 19%.

But the survey noted that the results may reflect the fact that some countries find it less culturally acceptable to talk about the problem than others. Click here for full report

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN TRAINING CALENDAR

For further information please contact:

Penny Burns, Health Improvement Team on 01835 825970

To book a place contact or phone 01835 825970

SAY NO TO ROGUE TRADERS

Doorstep crime remains the top national priority for trading standards in Scotland. It is carried out by cruel, unscrupulous and organised criminal groups who deliberately prey on the most vulnerable in society, predominantly the elderly population.
A new campaign SAY NO TO ROGUE TRADERShas been launched byTrading Standards Scotland and Police Scotland. The campaign urges victims, potential victims and their families and friends to call their local trading standards service immediately if they have suspicions about someone who has come to their door.

  • Don’t feel pressurised into agreeing to immediate work.
  • Beware of traders who suddenly appear after storms or floods and of claims that a low price is only available if you sign up right away.
  • Don’t agree to buy from the first person who calls. Ask yourself if you really want these goods or services.
  • Don’t pay cash up front. Never pay for work before it is completed and don’t hand over large sums of money.
  • Do shop around if you decide you need work done. Get a minimum of three quotes from reputable traders
  • Do ask what your cancellation rights are. Remember thatfor jobs costing over £35, traders are required to provide the consumer with a written notice
  • Do REPORT THEM! Don’t ever feel embarrassed if you feel you have been the victim of doorstep crime.
  • If you are in any way unsure about a caller at your door, contact Trading Standards or the Police immediately.

Click here to download the campaign flyers

WE CAN STOP IT

Police Scotland has launched a month-long campaign to raise awareness about rape. It targets young men, both heterosexual and gay, to raise their awareness of what rape is and educating young men about the law, which changed in 2010.But it is also hoped it will persuade victims that reporting rape early increases the chances of offenders being traced.

The campaign, We Can Stop It, is supported by groups including Rape Crisis Scotland and features posters, radio adverts and social media.

New laws, widening the definition of rape in Scotland, came into effect in 2010.

The Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 means any sexual intercourse without consent between a man and a woman or between two men is rape. For the first time this included cases where the victim is incapable of agreeing through drink or drugs. Police say one-in-six rapes takes place when the victim is asleep, and more than 90% are carried out by someone known to the victim.

The adverts feature a number of statements from men which support positive behaviour and knowledge that sex without consent is rape.

HAVE A GOOD TIME BUT DON’T GO OVERBOARD!

That’s the key message to everyone enjoying this year’s Border Festivals and Rugby Sevens.

Anyone who has drunk one too many will not be served. Local bar staff are being reminded of their legal obligation not to serve drunk customers.

The key message will be that whilst these organisations want people to enjoy these annual events and have a good time, they are encouraging them to drink responsibly and staff working in licensed premises will be reminded of the consequences of serving someone who is drunk. Serving people who are drunk can result in customers being more difficult to deal with and can result in disorder, injury or other health issues including acute alcohol poisoning.

Experience over the past few years of working with event organisers at the Senior Sevens circuit and the local Common Ridings and Festivals has demonstrated a level of professionalism and responsibility that is beyond reproach.

We are again seeking support from organisers and licensees in and around the various events. This year’s message is simple: ‘Be aware of the law as it relates to serving alcohol to drunk persons’ and ‘Strictly enforce the now Mandatory Challenge 25 policy attached to all licences’. This message is aimed both at staff in bars and staff in off sales outlets.