Northern Ireland Office

Criminal Justice Minister John Spellar today announced the expansion of the Government’s Lock Out Crime Scheme when he visited the Belfast home of the 1000th recipient.

Speaking during the visit to the 76 year old’s home John Spellar said “This 1000th installation of home security devices for older people is a milestone in the roll out of the Lock Out Crime Scheme. The initiative, which is now being extended across Northern Ireland, provides and installs home security measures free of charge, for those over 75 years, living in high crime areas and in receipt of certain benefits.

“I encourage all eligible people to take up the offer of free security improvements for their homes.  To date, more than 13,000 eligible older people have been invited to participate.  We are working hard to make sure that those most in need can benefit from the scheme and to increase the current take up rate, currently at 30%.

“Carrickfergus and Armagh will be the first Council areas to be targeted in this next phase of the roll out, following work already completed in year one of the programme.  By the completion of the scheme we expect that over 10,000 homes will have additional security measures installed, giving older people more confidence and protection in their own homes."

Notes to Editors

• The Lock Out Crime Scheme ( LOCS ) is the major component in the Government’s Stay Safe Stay Secure campaign, aimed at helping older people to feel safer within the community.
• Other aspects of this programme included a public information advertising campaign outlining procedures to deal with unknown callers and a primary school poster competition – the winners of which were announced in June 2004.
• The LOC Scheme is funded by the Community Safety Unit, NIO and delivered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.  The other partner organisations for the Stay Safe Stay Secure campaign are Age Concern, Help the Aged, Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations and PSNI.
• The overall cost of the Lock Out Crime Scheme is £2.25m.
• The LOC scheme commenced in October 2003 with a pilot programme which lasted until March 2004.  294 eligible older people were invited to participate the programme and 134 responded and have now had the work completed in their homes.
• The prioritisation of the programme was devised by using reported crime and deprivation data.  Other eligibility criteria include being aged 75 or over and in receipt of housing benefit or rate / rent rebate.
• The home security devices available for installation include: front and back door locks, door viewer, downstairs window locks and bulk head lighting front and rear.
• Installation schedule by Council area 2005 – 06
                 Strabane
                 Larne
                 Lurgan/Brownlow
                 Newry
                 Dungannon
                 Omagh
                 Limavady
                 Newtownabbey 2
                 Antrim
                 Lisburn/Antrim St
                 Carrickfergus
                 Armagh
                 Ballymena
                 Castlereagh
                 Banbridge
                 Newtownards
                 Cookstown
                 Ballymoney
                 Bangor
                 Enniskillen
                 Magherafelt