§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's research report on the impact of burglary on the health of older people in sheltered accommodation. [122669]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 30 June 2003]: We are publishing a report, entitled "Experiences of older burglary victims", on the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website, together with a related report, "Distraction burglary among older adults and minority ethnic communities". Copies will be placed in the Library.
The recommendations from the two studies cover three main areas: raising awareness of the crime of distraction burglary and how to prevent it, among both older people and professionals working with them; reducing vulnerability; and reducing the impact once a crime has occurred. They are highly relevant to practitioners and voluntary groups working with older burglary victims and vulnerable groups, and officials will be discussing them with a range of interested organisations, including Help the Aged and Age Concern, through the Home Office Distraction Burglary Task Force.