Manchester Working Ltd Supports Doorstep Security Measures

Manchester Working Ltd working in partnership with Parkway Green Housing Trust, the Merseyside Residents Network and Greater Manchester Police has been fitting free security measures for elderly residents in the Shenton area of Wythenshawe.

This includes a wall mirror that means residents can see callers when the front door chain is on and a magnifying card reader to help them check identification.

The idea comes from the Merseyside Residents Network, who piloted the idea in Liverpool after a bogus policeman broke into a pensioners' home and inflicted an attack that cost her life.

Working with Manchester Working Ltdand Parkway Green Housing Trust, the Residents Network helped install doorstep security packs in around 70homes. The security packs were sponsored and fitted free of charge by Manchester Working Ltd, as part of its commitment to creating safer communities.

After rolling out the scheme in Liverpool, Blackpool and Manchester, the Residents Network is now looking to expand the idea across the North West and create a tenants grass-roots information network exchange forum.

Paul Taylor, Chair of the Residents Network said "These are the first packs we've installed in the area and we're delighted to come to Manchester to share this idea. It was clear from speaking to residents on the day that many of them welcomed any additional security measures that the landlord can provide, allowing tenants that extra safety reassurance"

Manchester Working Limited's Brian Gates said: "Manchester Working Limited is committed to helping to make neighbourhoods safer and through this partnership we have been able to help make a real difference to residents in Manchester by fitting some simple but effective devices. We look forward to continuing to role this programme out across the North West."

Parkway Green's Jodi Huxley said "We were delighted to support this initiative and work with our partners to help protect our residents. The pilot was a huge success and I would like to thank everyone involved."

Sergeant Neil Tolley from the Northenden Neighbourhood Team said: "This is an excellent partnership approach to the prevention of a particularly distressing crime and will help us to reduce such incidents in the future. Such initiatives between GMP and our partners at Parkway Green and Manchester Working Ltd, the idea can only help us to reduce burglary offending in the community and the victims of such crimes.

"We ask that local residents help us by watching over those neighbours who may be vulnerable and elderly, to assist us in preventing offenders from committing these types of crime that cause misery and distress to others."