News reports located on this page = 2.

Merseyrail launch netball competition to celebrate the World Cup and women in sport

MERSEYRAIL have launched a giant spot the ball competition in Liverpool Central to celebrate the Netball World Cup and women in sport. Liverpool is hosting the Vitality Netball World Cup this month, and Merseyrail are giving passengers the chance to win ₤150 in JD Sports vouchers by taking part in their competition. To enter, all passengers have to do is visit the Mtogo convenience store in Liverpool Central station and pick up a card, select a square where they think the ball is and pop it in the post box for a chance to win. The competition will close on 21 July 2019 and the winner will be announced the day after.  There are 10 MtoGo stores across the Merseyrail network combining a traditional ticket and travel information office with a convenience store. As well as buying tickets, passengers can also pick up a range of produce including:- meal deals, fresh milk, magazines and newspapers.

Suzanne Grant, Commercial Director at Merseyrail, said:- "Hosting the Netball World Cup in Liverpool is fantastic for the City and women's sport in the country, especially off the back of the Women's Football World Cup. Merseyrail are big supporters of women in sport, having been sponsors of Merseyrail Ladies FC; who have just opened the 1st purpose-built women's football ground in the UK; for the last few years. Good luck to all participants in our spot the ball competition; and good luck to England in the World Cup!"

The City is expected to be very busy during the tournament, so spectators are encouraged to ditch the car and use the train to get to the MandS Bank Arena or to watch the netball in the fan zone at Chavasse Park. Return tickets start from just ₤2.10 and trains run frequently across all lines on the network; ensuring you can get to the action hassle free. James Street station is closest for Wirral line passengers, with Liverpool Central being the closest for the Northern line.

Crime against older people isn't well understood

OLDER people who have been the victims of crime are often let down by the Police and wider criminal justice system which does not always understand their needs and experiences, according to a new report. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and Her Majesty's Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) found that the Police have only a "superficial understanding" of the nature and extent of crimes against older people, which often results in a poorer service to older victims.

Older people account for 18% of the population, but over 80% of victims of doorstop scams are elderly, and they also comprise 25% of domestic homicide victims. Despite this, and the fact that we have an increasingly ageing population, the 2 inspectorates found that the Police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lacked any joint cohesive and focused strategy to deal with older victims of crime.

Te report concluded that the Police and CPS response to crimes against older people; praised the work of Police officers in their initial dealings with older victims of crime, including attending promptly to reports of crime from older victims. But afterwards, officers struggled to deal with some of the complex needs of older people.

Older people were not always properly safeguarded. For example, in 153 cases where a safeguarding referral should have been made by Police to the local authority, on 77 occasions we could not find any evidence of this taking place.

Referral to victim support services for older people was too inconsistent.

Older people were not always offered the support of intermediaries, or helped to give their best evidence, for example by video-recording their evidence or using hearing loops.

In this inspection, the 1st by HMICFRS and HMCPSI to look specifically at older victims of crime, adult safeguarding was described as the 'poor relation' of safeguarding arrangements. Whilst the Police are correct to take child safeguarding incredibly seriously, there are concerns that safeguarding for vulnerable adults is not prioritised in the same way. It is important that those aged 18 and over receive the protection and support that they require.

Of the 192 cases the inspectorates looked at in detail, victim care was found to be not good enough in:- 101, and the Victims' Code had been complied with on only 97 occasions.

HM Inspector of Constabulary, Wendy Williams, said:- "As people are living increasingly longer, it is imperative that the needs of older people are properly understood by those charged with protecting them.  While the care and concern of Police officers for all victims of crime cannot be doubted, older victims often present unique challenges which need to be considered. Unfortunately, our inspection found that older people are often not treated according to their needs by the criminal justice system. A good start would be to make sure assessments are consistently made of victims' needs. We want to see a sharper focus on older people, and the problems they face. For example, we believe that the Police and the CPS can work together better to understand the problem and develop strategies for how to respond. We are also concerned about the lack of consistent adult safeguarding arrangements. We want this inspection to kickstart the change and we hope that our recommendations will make all vulnerable people safer."

As a result of the inspection, HMICFRS and HMCPSI made a series of recommendations aimed at improving responses to older victims of crime and vulnerable adults more generally, these included:-

► The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and the CPS should, within 6 months, agree a definition of what constitutes an older victim and take a coordinated approach to understand and respond to the problem.

► The NPCC should, within 6 months, establish a standard way for Police forces to conduct a victim needs assessment.

► The NPCC and College of Policing (COP) should, within 6 months, develop a strategy for how the Police service should respond to the problems faced by older people, and agree who should be responsible for it.

► The NPCC and COP should, as a matter of urgency, develop guidelines and training for officers involved in adult safeguarding procedures.