Tag: Week of Action

“You could get Pension Credit” – Week of Action to drive take up

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to launch Pension Credit Week of Action to boost take-up of vital benefit

  • Joining forces with charities, broadcasters and a range of partners, the campaign will encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and apply
  • Up to 880,000 pensioners could be missing out on this cash boost worth on average up to £3,900 per year

Hundreds of thousands of pensioners are being urged to apply for a benefit that could be worth on average £3,900 per year as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is launching a campaign to increase Pension Credit take-up on Monday 2 September.

With as many as 880,000 pensioners missing out, the Pension Credit Week of Action aims to spread awareness and increase claims for Pension Credit, which from this year will also automatically passport eligible pensioners to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

Joining forces with charities, broadcasters, Local Authorities, and a range of partners, the campaign will tackle myths that may prevent people applying, for instance having a small private pension, savings or owning their own home.

Families, friends and neighbours are being encouraged to reach out to retired family members to encourage them to check their eligibility and apply. 21 December is the last possible date to make a successful backdated claim in order to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

While around 1.4 million pensioners are already receiving Pension Credit, up to an estimated 880,000 households are eligible for the support but are not claiming it.

Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said: “The £22 billion blackhole inherited from the previous governments means we are having to take tough decisions now to fix the foundations of our economy – including making the Winter Fuel Payments available to those most at need.

“1.3 million pensioners are already going to get help with fuel bills this year because they’re claiming pension credit – but thousands more are eligible. So, if you know someone who could get pension credit and help with their fuel bills, now is the time to help them apply for pension credit.”

Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall said: “Thousands of pensioners are missing out on Pension Credit worth on average £3,900 per year. That needs to change.

“It’s easier than ever to check if you are eligible, including with our online calculator, and if your circumstances have changed since the last time you looked – I urge you to check again.

“Friends, families and neighbours can also encourage their loved ones to apply, so that they are not missing out on this vital benefit.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “The legacy of failure on energy policy we have inherited means energy prices are set to rise in autumn. We must ensure that pensioners in the greatest need get access to help with rising bills.

“We will do everything in our power to increase take up of Pension Credit to the 880,000 households who are yet to claim – opening the door to other vital support such as the Winter Fuel Payment.

“The government will also continue our mission to deliver clean power by 2030, helping to finally give families the energy security they deserve and our country the energy independence we need.”

Pensioners whose weekly income is below £218.15 for a single person or £332.95 for a couple should check to see if they are eligible for this support which is worth £3,900 a year on average, using DWP’s online calculator.

People with a severe disability, carers and those who are responsible for a child or young person who lives with them could get more. Pension Credit can also include extra amounts for certain housing costs, such as ground rent or service charges.

This work is part of a wider plan to ensure economic stability for pensioners by protecting the Triple Lock and supporting households with their energy bills through the £150 Warm Home Discount and the Warm Homes Plan – upgrading millions of homes this Parliament. 

Over the next five years, more than 12 million pensioners could see their State Pension increase by over a thousand pounds as a result of the commitment to the Triple Lock.

Applications for Pension Credit can be made:

  • On the How to Claim page  
  • Over the phone by calling 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm)  
  • By printing out and filling in a paper application form  
  • For more information visit the Pension Credit GOV.UK page. 
  • The Winter Fuel Payment is worth £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over. Households with someone aged 66-79 will receive £200.
  • We will work with Local Authorities to bring together the administration of Pension Credit and Housing Benefit as soon as operationally possible.
  • People who have reached State Pension age before September 23, 2024 and are in receipt of Pension Credit, Income Support, Income based JSA, Income related ESA, Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit, will be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment – subject to eligibility conditions.
  • The regulations to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment will be laid on 22 August 2024. The qualifying week in 2024 for Winter Fuel Payments will be from 16 to 22 September.
  • Pensioners need to be entitled to Pension Credit for at least one day in week September 16 to 22 to be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment for this winter.
  • 21 December is the last date for backdating a claim for Pension Credit to 22 September, assuming the claimant met the Pension Credit entitlement conditions throughout the previous three months.
  • Anyone who is entitled to Pension Credit for at least one day of the Winter Fuel Payment qualifying week will have automatic entitlement to Winter Fuel Payment. There are some exceptions which are detailed on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/eligibility
  • People do not have to do anything extra to backdate their claim. If they make their application online, they will automatically be asked if they would like to backdate it. If they make their application over the phone the advisor will talk them through this. 
  • Around 1.3 million households in England and Wales will continue to receive Winter Fuel Payments due to some other pensioner households being eligible and expected extra Pension Credit take up due to this reform.

Pension Credit recipients by region (as of February 2024):

North East73,883
North West175,179
Yorkshire and The Humber118,633
East Midlands95,767
West Midlands130,427
East of England110,017
London190,496
South East147,763
South West111,251
Wales80,927
Scotland125,136

Chief Constable praises response officers during Week of Action

Chief Constable Jo Farrell paid tribute to response officers during a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority yesterday (Thursday 27 June).

Speaking during the National Police Chiefs’ Council Response Policing Week of Action, the Chief thanked response officers for their bravery, compassions and resilience as the first police contact across countless scenarios and times of crisis.

The Chief said senior officers had been visiting response teams across the country to thank them in person and listen to their experiences.

CC Farrell said: “Response officers work around the clock to serve the public with bravery, compassion and resilience across countless scenarios – no two shifts are the same. Response officers are often the first contact the public has with their police service, and often in moments of crisis and criticality.

“I’ve been clear that it is my duty to support frontline policing and my aim is to bring the frontline to its strongest possible position. I want to record my deep gratitude for our response officers and I know senior officers right across the country are taking time to recognise and thank their teams.”

Chief Constable Farrell provided a wide ranging update on how officers and staff are delivering for the public, including securing important convictions in murder and organised crime cases.

The Chief’s speaking note is below

This week Police Scotland is recognising and celebrating the vital role and contribution of response policing as part of the National Police Chiefs’ Council Response Policing Week of Action.

Response officers work around the clock to serve the public with bravery, compassion and resilience across countless scenarios – no two shifts are the same. Response officers are often the first contact the public has with their police service, and often in moments of crisis and criticality.

I’ve been clear that it is my duty to support frontline policing and my aim is to bring the frontline to its strongest possible position. I want to record my deep gratitude for our response officers and I know senior officers right across the country are taking time to recognise and thank their teams.

My report outlines how officers and staff are delivering for the public every day – investigating crime; securing court outcomes; and seizing illegal drugs.

This summer, policing is also supporting major events, including hugely popular music concerts, sporting events, festivals and a general election. I want to thank the officers and staff who plan and support our proportionate and appropriate policing response to ensure communities can enjoy events safely and participate in the democratic process.

Since appointment, I’ve underlined that as policing tackles threat, harm and risk, we must also focus on prevention and problem solving to support communities, eliminate harm and get on top of demand.

This month, we’re campaigning to reduce road casualties with a focus on wearing seatbelts and we’ve shared powerful testimony from people affected by road traffic collisions. I thank those who bravely shared their experiences in an effort to prevent further harm.

Introducing change that achieves efficiencies and benefits is critical to provide effective service.

We’ve now outlined a national contract to implement body worn video for over 10,000 frontline officers and staff across Scotland, over the next three years.

Motorola Solutions was awarded the contract on the basis of quality and value for money and a range of technical requirements. The new system is anticipated to work smoothly in areas with lower quality network connections, including rural locations, and we are also investing in our network capability to support this.

Body worn video can help to de-escalate incidents, improve public trust in policing and reduce complaints, support officer and staff safety, and bring wider benefits to the criminal justice system and I have been clear a national roll-out is a priority for me.

We know there is strong public and partner support for body worn video in Scotland and we will continue to explain policing’s use of this important technology, including assurance around data privacy and human rights considerations.

The national roll out of body worn video is a complex programme of work.  Appointing a supplier is an important step and we are working with Motorola Solutions to ensure that body worn video is embedded effectively for frontline officers and staff as soon as possible and we’ll continue to share details as progress is made.

I have highlighted that innovation and system-wide improvement must be prioritised and accelerated across the criminal justice system and, as we roll out body worn video, we’re working with Motorola Solutions and partners to maximise its benefits to improve efficiencies and experiences for victims.

My report details other work with the Scottish Government, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Service to support better and quicker court outcomes for victims and to provide efficiency and value for the public and I am grateful for their engagement and commitment to those shared goals.

The time it takes for victims to get justice in this system is far too long. Victims and witnesses, including police witnesses, are repeatedly cited to court when they are not giving evidence.

Along with accelerating broader change across the criminal justice system, I want key partners, including the third sector, to help us find a balance around the care, support and monitoring of people suffering with poor mental health that officers are too often picking up.

We receive a mental health related call every three-four minutes on average and each year officers deploy to well over 100,000 mental health related incidents – the equivalent work of between 500 and 600 full time officers.

I’ve asked Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs to lead Police Scotland’s work with partners including the Authority and the Scottish Government and we’ve established a mental health taskforce to drive work in this priority area at pace.

The taskforce will develop and embed referral pathways such as the NHS Mental Health Pathway and Distress Brief Intervention, as well as operational guidance on how to access community triage, so the public get the right response from those best able to give people the help they need and deserve.

The taskforce will also build on training to give our people the knowledge, skills and confidence to support that balance around the care, support and monitoring in our day to day policing.

Of course, policing cannot succeed in this without the support and engagement of partners. There are localised examples of fantastic initiatives such as the Neuk in Perth which I visited in April.

But we need more of this, right across the country.

We want to work with partners to ensure there is the right capability and capacity in the system, while giving officers and staff the knowledge and tools to help people access the best help for them.

Moving on, I want to briefly highlight three events which are further detailed in my report.

I was grateful for the leadership, contribution and support of the Scottish Police Authority and you, Chair, for the first Scottish Biometrics Conference which the Authority and Police Scotland jointly hosted with the Biometrics Commissioner Dr Brian Plastow in Edinburgh last week.

The event was an important opportunity to continue the necessary public conversation about policing’s ethical use of biometrics data and new technology where it can help us discharge our positive duty to keep people safe.

We welcomed around 50 law enforcement colleagues, mostly from the United States as the Federal Bureau of Investigations hosted a cycle of their National Executive Institute programme for senior officers at Police Scotland Headquarters. Along with other Police Scotland chief officers, I addressed the delegates during this important example of our commitment to sharing learning on an international scale.

I want to thank everyone who contributed to and attended our recruitment open day hosted at our Recruitment and Training Centre at Jackton, in South Lanarkshire. The showcase was well attended and gave members of the public an insight into our varied, rewarding and demanding vocation.

My report also outlines the deployment of over 190 probationary officers to local policing following the completion of their initial training earlier this month.

It is important to say we are recruiting – particularly for police officers and for staff in our contact centres and I would encourage anyone who shares our values, who wants to help us keep people safe and who is interested in a hugely rewarding career to visit the recruitment area of our website.

We have provided an overview of the projected recruitment and officer headcount profile during 2024-25 which will be presented by DCC Speirs later. As Chief Constable, I would just make a few brief comments at this stage.

We know a number of factors, going back to recruitment and training being paused during the pandemic and COP26 and an increase in retirement following pension changes, along with a recruitment pause to ensure we delivered a balanced budget in 2023-24, have contributed to greater volatility in officer numbers than would otherwise be the case.

Police Scotland’s retention rate is in line with other large police services.

So far in 2024, as with previous years, we continue to see the majority of officers leave for retirement. Although our retention rate is good, I do recognise policing is a demanding job and I’m focused on improving the experiences of officers and staff.

As I mentioned earlier, I want to bring the frontline of policing to its strongest possible position. The context of that strength goes beyond an overall officer headcount and it is important we continue to maximise experienced officers performing frontline, operational policing for our communities.

At the same time, following the Scottish Budget announcement, I outlined our plans to restart officer recruitment in March and further intakes planned during 2024-25 total over 1300 officers, the highest number Police Scotland has recruited during a year.

As part of this, we’re introducing a non-residential course operated from Jackton which, as well as increasing our recruitment capacity, recognises the barriers a residential training programme can present for potential candidates.

In summary, increasing officer numbers is a focus and we’re testing innovative approaches to maximise our probationer training capacity, while at the same time pressing change that strengthens the frontline by redirecting resources or delivering efficiencies.

Lastly, my report details changes to leadership responsibilities within the Force Executive following the appointments of Stuart Houston, Catr​iona Paton and Mark Sutherland as Assistant Chief Constables.

Our refreshed Force Executive has a shared focus to evolve our service so policing can live within our means and to ensure we support our fantastic officers and staff, to deliver the best for our communities.

Upstream Battle: Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Week of Action

KEEP Scotland Beautiful’s #UpstreamBattle week of action is taking place from 20- 28 January, and we’ll be hosting events across the week focused on stopping litter’s journey from #Source2Sea.

Find out more about how you can get involved and what is happening near you here:

https://keepscotlandbeautiful.org/upstream-battle/raising-awareness/upstream-battle-week-of-action/

Police forces launch national week of action to stop uninsured drivers

  • 45 police forces launch Op Drive Insured on 15-21 November, in a national week of increased roads policing activity to seize uninsured vehicles and protect road users.
  • Every 20 minutes someone in the UK is injured by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver. Over 26,000 victims were supported by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) in 2020.
  • Drivers can check their vehicle appears insured on police systems for free at www.askmid.com

On 15-21 November 2021, all 45 UK police forces will execute Op Drive Insured in a national effort to reduce uninsured driving levels and protect road users.

The week-long campaign which has been developed by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) and NPCC’s National Roads Policing Operations, Intelligence and Investigations (NRPOII), will see an increase in roads policing activity to detect and seize uninsured vehicles.

MIB which is a not-for-profit organisation that compensates victims of uninsured and hit-and-run drivers, supported over 26,000 injured victims in 2020 – equating to one injury every 20 minutes.

In addition to causing more collisions, MIB records show uninsured drivers often commit wider road crime ranging from ‘hit and runs’, using a stolen vehicle and drink driving.

Ben Fletcher, Chief Customer Officer at MIB, said: “Put simply, uninsured motorists are very dangerous. They cause a worryingly high level of collisions and are frequently involved in wider crime.

“By using MIB’s Motor Insurance Database police can easily see if a vehicle appears to have no insurance and will take swift action to remove the threat. Op Drive Insured serves as an important reminder that no one is above the law and illegal motorists will be caught.”

Jo Shiner, Chief Constable at Sussex Police and NPCC Lead for Roads Policing, said: “Police officers take action against the users of uninsured vehicles every day, this national week of action really highlights how we work with all of our partners to take these vehicles off the road and prosecute offenders.

“We know those who are unwilling to insure their vehicles present more risk to other road users than those who do insure their vehicles. 

“We have sophisticated systems to help identify offenders and we will use all of our powers to take appropriate action against offenders and make our roads safer.”

Uninsured driving is a problem that exists across all corners of the UK, with the worst-affected areas found in Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester and Greater London.

MIB which is funded by insurers and ultimately their honest premium-paying customers, requires around £400 million each year to compensate victims and help them rebuild their lives.

Furthermore, using government figures on the average value of prevention, MIB estimates that collisions caused by uninsured and hit-and-run drivers could cost the economy nearly £2 billion a year in emergency services, medical care, loss of productivity and property damage.

During the week of action, Police Officers will access MIB’s Motor Insurance Database (MID) – a central record of live UK motor insurance policies – to see if motorists’ licence plates show their vehicle as insured.

If the validity of insurance is disputed by the driver, MIB will liaise in real-time with the insurer in question to confirm if the vehicle has valid insurance.

Uninsured drivers will likely have their vehicle seized (and potentially crushed), receive a £300 fixed penalty notice and six licence points. Furthermore, uninsured motorists could face court and receive an unlimited fine and/or a driving ban. A criminal record can also affect job prospects.

So far this year, over 100,000 uninsured drivers have had their vehicle seized.

Driving insured? Be confident with MIB’s quick guide

Do ✓Don’t ✖
Do check that your vehicle is appearing as insured on the Motor Insurance Database (MID) for free at www.askMID.comDon’t withhold key information when buying insurance to save money. This is fraud – the consequences are serious, and it will invalidate the insurance policy.  
Do only use your vehicle for the agreed purposes of its insurance cover. If unsure what your policy covers, speak to your insurer. Don’t buy car insurance on social media, or through an unfamiliar source. It’s probably a fake car insurance scam called Ghost Broking.
Do find out when your policy expires and if it auto-renews, so you can ensure it doesn’t run out without your knowledge.Don’t use a personal E-scooter on public roads and spaces. Only local authority-operated trial E-scooters are covered for third party use.

Charity launches campaign to free Britain’s pavements of clutter

  • Living Streets is launching a campaign to rid Britain’s pavements of clutter.
  • An increase in e-bikes, e-scooters, and on-street dining has seen more space taken away from pedestrians.
  • Over a third of people (34%) would visit their local High Street more if pavements were less cluttered.
  • The charity wants people to map the clutter in their local area on an interactive map during their #CutTheClutter Week of Action (12-18 July 2021)
  • The campaign is supported by British Cycling, Cycling UK, Guide Dogs, RNIB and Transport for All.

Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking is launching a campaign to rid Britain’s pavements of clutter.

Poorly placed bins, A-boards and excessive signage can clutter pavements and make it hazardous for people to get around. A recent increase in e-bikes, e-scooters, and on-street dining has seen more space taken away from pedestrians. Living Streets wants to cut the clutter on Britain’s pavements to make it easier for people walking and wheeling.

Cluttered pavements can prevent people with wheelchairs, buggies or Guide Dogs getting around easily and safely. Living Streets research finds that it can also impact on everyone’s desire to walk more, with a YouGov poll finding that over a third of people (34%) would visit their local High Street more if pavements were less cluttered.   

The charity is launching a #CutTheClutter Week of Action (12-18 July 2021) and asking people to show where the clutter is in their local area on an interactive map. The charity is also helping people write to their local councils to tackle the issue.

Stephen Edwards, Interim CEO, Living Streets said: “Our pavements should be wide enough for everyone to pass each other easily. When footways are blocked, it forces people into the carriageway and into traffic. Our research shows that people are more likely to get out and support their local economy when their streets are clutter-free.

“Town and cities nationwide have been using government investment to trial schemes to create more space for people walking, including widening pavements and closing certain streets to traffic. We should not undo all this great work and investment by crowding pavements with excessive signage and poorly placed street furniture.”

Living Streets’ Cut the Clutter campaign is being supported by British Cycling, Cycling UK, Guide Dogs, RNIB and Transport for All.

Katie Pennick from Transport For All recently highlighted the issues wheelchair users face from on-street dining in a Twitter video that’s been viewed over 1.9 million times.

Katie Pennick, Campaigns Lead, Transport for All said: “For wheelchair users, visually impaired people, and many other disabled pedestrians – street clutter can turn pavements into treacherous, disorienting, and difficult routes.

“A poorly placed A-board can put an end to a particular journey. Having to navigate constant obstacles puts many people off from walking and wheeling, excluding them from the benefits of active travel.

“It’s vital that we remove the barriers on our pavements to enable more people to enjoy moving around their local communities with freedom, ease, and independence.”

To take part in the Week of Action, visit livingstreets.org.uk/Clutter

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service launches Week of Action

Fire crews in unprecedented move to reach those at highest risk

Firefighters throughout Scotland will be deployed to protect vulnerable people in a nationwide ‘week of action’ aimed at preventing accidental house fires and the tragedies they cause.

The unprecedented move follows a recent appeal from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) for the public to help it reach those most likely to be killed or injured as a result of fire in the home.

Between January and May, 28 people lost their lives as a result of fires and June has so far seen two more fatalities.

People over the age of 60 accounted for almost two-thirds of those killed and, as well as age, the common factors contributing to many of the deaths were smoking, ill-health, living alone and limited mobility.

With evidence many fire tragedies could be prevented SFRS is taking the major step of sending operational crews and community firefighters to households throughout the country to offer residents advice on keeping their homes and everyone in them safe.

Ahead of the ‘Week of Action’ to protect people from fire, the service is again issuing a plea for families, friends and neighbours to take responsibility for keeping those close to them safe.

SFRS Chief Officer Alasdair Hay said: “We are totally committed to protecting the public and this significant step shows the importance we place on preventing fires from happening.

“The nationwide approach to this week of action means our personnel will be visible throughout Scotland and pro-actively contact as many people as we possibly can.

“We rely on responsible citizens and partner agency colleagues to put us in touch with individuals who may be at increased risk of experiencing a fire in their home and those strong partnerships are absolutely vital to preventing tragedies.

“As the country’s firefighters work to protect every community I would urge everyone to join Scotland’s fight against fire by ensuring anyone who might need some help gets that potentially life-saving support.”

Statistics show those aged 65 and over are more than twice as likely to die in a fire as people of other ages.

The speed with which a fire can develop and spread toxic smoke, heat and flames means those who are old, who live alone and who have issues with their health or mobility are at particular risk of being injured or killed.

Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “The work of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to raise awareness of the risks of fire is very valuable and means that we are safer from the risk of fire at home than we have ever been.

“However it’s crucial not to become complacent and the recent spate of tragic fire fatalities has shown some people, particularly the elderly, immobile and those who live alone, are still at risk.

“That’s why it is so positive to see the fire service working with partners, including health authorities and the voluntary sector, to develop new ways to identify those individuals in communities who are most at risk, and to make early interventions to ensure they are protected.”

The ‘Week of Action’ will involve local senior officers calling on the support of partner agencies to reach those who they know to be at risk.

By visiting homes firefighters can help residents understand the risks and take very minor actions known to dramatically reduce the chance of a fire starting.

Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, the SFRS director of prevention and protection, explained why their efforts also mean occupiers are less likely to be hurt or killed if a fire does happen in their home.

He said: “We often see smoke alarms in the wrong position and firefighters conducting a home fire safety visit will correct this to make sure people are protected.

“If someone is over the age of 60, lives alone or has difficulty moving around then it can take more time for them to escape in an emergency.

“They need to know not to smoke in bed, or even while feeling tired and sitting in a chair. If the person just can’t avoid doing this then we can work with partners and communities to help make them safer.

“There is a huge amount of support available but we need our partner agencies and the public to help us make sure it gets to those who need it.”

He continued: “We also want to remind people that if they hear a smoke alarm activating then they need to call 999 and report it right away.

“Many people can be reluctant to make an emergency call and assume an alarm has gone off due to something innocuous like burnt toast, but the fact is waiting to see if the alarm stops could cost someone their life.”

With an aging population – 23 per cent of the UK will be aged 65 and over by 2035 – helping older people prevent fires and stay safe is certain to remain an issue for every community.

Free home fire safety visits take around 20 minutes to complete and are conducted by local SFRS crews at a time convenient for the householder.

A popular feature of the Join Scotland’s Fight against Fire campaign, they are available by calling the freephone number 0800 073 1999, by texting ‘FIRE’ to 80800 or by filling in an online form at www.firescotland.gov.uk.

Chair of the SFRS Board Pat Watters added: “Our staff throughout Scotland work around the clock to keep people safe and there is nothing more upsetting than seeing lives needlessly lost and ruined.

“Every single one of us has a responsibility to play our part. Fire isn’t something that only happens to other people or only concerns emergency responders.

“The messages from firefighters are very clear and everyone in Scotland can play a life-saving role by thinking about fire safety and doing what they can to help protect their community.

“There isn’t a city, town or village in the country that can afford to ignore the warnings and I would urge everyone to understand the risks and join Scotland’s fight against fire.”