DURBAN – Today SAPS Brighton Beach in collaboration with Community Safety and Liaison hosted an integrated public awareness and educational campaign focussing on the vulnerability of the elderly within society.

Individual level characteristics which increase the risk of an elderly person falling prey to various forms of abuse include; functional dependency, disability, poor physical health, cognitive impairment, poor mental health and financial constraints.

Today’s presentation included the facilitation of safety tips for the elderly when occupying public spaces, when in the privacy of their homes, and while driving.

Brighton Beach Social Crime Prevention Co-ordinator Sergeant Sduduza Makaya facilitated the process to follow on how to obtain a protection order and harassment order.

Captain Le Roux also explained the threats the aged are exposed to when engaging unknown people on the various social media platforms available to them.

The 120 residents were each gifted with an educational care pack created by Captain Le Roux containing a Safety for the aged and domestic violence information guide. The care pack also contained a laminated SAPS Brighton Beach Women’s Network Telephone Bookmark accompanied by a SAPS carry along bag.

The strategic objectives of the SAPS was achieved through this collaboration, ensuring that the aged were empowered to practice positive reinforcements to limit their abuse and falling prey to those with criminal intentions.

Source: South African Police Service