training materials
Training Package for Trading Standards Staff
This is a full day training programme supported by three of the videos/DVDs detailed below. It is recommended that before embarking on any major doorstep crime programme (including using the videos referred to below) staff are given this training input. This training programme can be delivered 'in house' by somebody with a reasonable awareness of doorstep crime and related issues. Alternatively it can be arranged for professional trainers/facilitators to visit individual authorities to deliver this package.
The following are available to provide doorstep crime training. However, the Trading Standards Institute makes no endorsement of training providers.
Gary Cordes
01304 373 785
garycordes@btinternet.com
Brian Steele
01274 563 352
Awareness Training Package for Trading Standards Enforcement Staff: Doorstep Crime & Distraction Burglary PDF 94kb
Videos / DVDs
These videos and DVDs are now in short supply and multiple orders may not be able to be met in full.
Beat the bogeyman - Aimed at raising awareness of doorstep crime amongst professionals and volunteers.
Beware the Bogeyman - A presentation to older people, usually in their homes, on a one-to-one basis.
Catch the Bogeyman - Aimed principally at police and enforcement staff visiting older victims of doorstep crime.
Feeling Good - Keeping Safe - How to put on a community theatre group production for an older adult audience, including full scripts, prop lists etc.
The Bank Job - Training / awareness raising video/CD for bank and building society staff.
First Contact - Aimed at those who received calls from the public, e.g. police, trading standards, CAB, local authority call centre staff.
The Isobel Gray Story - Isobel Gray was murdered in 1997 by a doorstep criminal. This account of her murder and the investigation provides an excellent introduction to any doorstep crime seminar, training event, etc.
'Beware the Bogeyman' Training Package
This DVD (with subtitles/signing for the deaf and hard of hearing) is for presentation to older adults (usually in their own homes) on a one to one basis. Presentation to smaller groups is also possible. Presenting the package takes approximately one hour but it must be done by a trained presenter. The package includes basic advice on how to deal with doorstep callers.
It is supplied with a second video demonstrating a typical presentation to an older adult in their home and instruction booklet.
The presenter must have a basic knowledge of the issues and above all, have time to sit down and present it to the older adult in an interactive and controlled manner. These people may be members of local voluntary agencies or support workers who have contact with older adults. Whatever the case, they themselves will need training.
A detailed training programme for presenters (approximately 3 hours duration) is available. The training programme for presenters can be delivered 'in house' by somebody will a reasonable awareness of doorstep crime and related issues.
View the training programme PDF 71KB
Order form PDF 110KB
Supplementary Video to Support 'Beware the Bogeyman' Training Package
The 'Beware the Bogeyman' video is accompanied by the training programme for presenters. Part of that training is to 'mock up' a presentation to an older adult. This can be done by using volunteers from the group or 'calling in' two people to act out the presentation in front of the class.
As an alternative, this video uses actors to demonstrate a typical presentation to an older adult in their home. It is supplied as part of the 'Beware the Bogeyman' training package (see above).
'Beat the Bogeyman' Video
A general awareness video aimed at enforcement staff, support workers and others associated with doorstep crime programs.
'First Contact' Training Package
This is a training video aimed at trading standards, police, CAB, advice and call centre staff. It is to enable the call taker to recognise problems associated with doorstep crime to enable them to either advise/educate or pass on the information for appropriate enforcement/support follow up.
The video is intended to be shown as part of a 3 hour training programme. It is supplied together with the general awareness video, 'Beat the Bogeyman' and a detailed training booklet outlining how a staff training session should be run. The training programme has been designed so that it can be delivered 'in house' by somebody with a reasonable awareness of doorstep crime and related issues.
View the 1st contact package PDF 49KB
Order form PDF 110KB
'Feeling Good, Keeping Safe'
Research has shown that people will not be sufficiently influenced by leaflets or just by showing them a video without there being interaction. Piloted in West Yorkshire, a community theatre group consisting of older people put together a production with support from crime experts. The theatre production deals with doorstep crime and is a very powerful way of getting the message across. Over 100 performances are testimony to the success of this.
This video is a half hour documentary (followed by a full 1 hour production) aimed at encouraging other community theatre groups to put on similar productions aimed at older people. The video (accompanied by scripts, prop list and instructions) will show amateur theatre groups how this can be done. It is supplied with the general awareness video 'Beat the Bogeyman'
www.figmenttheatre.co.uk (external site)
See also the community musical 'Trickster' produced in the southwest by the Police Partnership Trust www.dorset.police.uk (external site)
'Catch the Bogeyman' Video
This video is aimed principally at police or other investigating officers who have to deal with victims immediately after an incident. It is supplied with the general awareness video 'Beat the Bogeyman'.
'The Bank Job' Video/CD
for bank and building society staff
A video/CD for bank and building society staff to raise their awareness of doorstep crime and how to recognise and deal with clients (especially older/vulnerable adults) who make large cash withdrawals which are out of the ordinary and which may be to pay doorstep criminals and rogue traders. This complements the trading standards/bank and building society best practice guidelines (PDF 29KB) and supporting leaflet and posters.
'The Isobel Gray Story' CD
Isobel Gray was murdered in West Yorkshire and whilst her murderers were never convicted it is known that she was a victim of doorstep criminals. This investigation, led by Chief Superintendent Brian Steele provoked a 4 year Home Office research programme into distraction burglary and doorstep crime. The circumstances of miss Gray's murder highlight the problems bogus callers and criminal property repairers. In this video Brian Steele recalls the investigation of this murder and his research findings. This film is a must to understand the background of how doorstop criminals operate. It is ideal for showing at the start of a seminar or training event involving police, trading standards or other agencies.
Guide for Trading Standards Officers dealing with vulnerable witnesses and victims of Doorstep Crime PDF 54KB - Adapted specifically for Trading Standards Officers from the Police (Operation Liberal) guide.
'Knock Knock - Who's There'
Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham have produced a DVD of a doorstep crime presentation with subtitles and British sign language. This film is intended for those who work with the elderly and vulnerable. Due to its content it is not suitable for and not intended for viewing by an audience of the general public. Contact Nottinghamshire or City of Nottingham trading standards for more details
