Fighting the fear of crime is one of the main aims of a Crime Reduction week starting in Chelmsford today.

Organisers hope people will use the information available to help combat crime and the fear of it.

The four-day event has been organised by the Chelmsford Crime Reduction Group, and chairman Geoff Ireland said: "One purpose of the group is to carry out initiatives like this that will help fight crime. This is the second crime reduction week the group has organised.

Activities during the event includes crime awareness caravans being outside Sainsburys in Springfield and Tesco in Princes Road today between 10am and 4pm today.

"The purpose is to speak to people as they leave the supermarkets and give them any literature about crimes as bogus callers and personal safety. The police asked if we could focus on the elderly during this week," said Mr Ireland.

Tonight a Neighbourhood Watch fundraising quiz is taking place at police headquarters, and tomorrow the group is launching the Nominated Neighbour scheme throughout the Chelmsford borough.

Mr Ireland said: "About 250 people have already been involved in the pilot of the scheme to see if it works, and we have now sent the 5,000 people suitable for the scheme letters due to its success.

The Essex Police band is playing at Chelmsford Cathedral Saturday night.

Tickets cost £5, including refreshments, and money raised will go towards future initiatives Mr Ireland said the event continued on Monday with the borough council holding a presentation at Victoria Baptist church and police out meeting residents living in rural areas

The week finishes on Tuesday with an over 55s car safety evening at Dovercourt in Robjohns Road "This week is basically to show that we are there to help people and point them in the right direction. As well as fighting crime we want to take the fear of crime away as well," said Mr Ireland

Tickets for the police band concert can be bought by telephoning 01245 472524 or 01245 471463

Published Friday, June 13, 2003

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