IN a bid to help combat crime in Basildon, residents are to be provided with a a range of items to help protect themselves and their property.

The Safer Basildon Partnership, the borough's community safety partnership which includes Basildon Council, Essex Fire and Rescue and Essex Police, has provided a range of crime prevention materials to be distributed across the borough via foodbanks and through local residents.

In a normal year, Safer Basildon would have held a programme of pop-up events in the community, and materials including personal alarms, purse bells and card defenders would be distributed to residents at these events.

As this hasn't been able to happen in the last year due to the pandemic, Safer Basildon has partnered with the Helping Hands Foodbank and Billericay Foodbank and Street Pastors, providing them with materials to distribute to the community. Residents are able to attend either location to collect the materials for themselves.

Basildon Council leader Cllr Andrew Baggott, says: "This is a fantastic example of the brilliant work Safer Basildon are doing to help protect our communities. Even during the pandemic without their usual pop-up events, they're still engaging with partners to provide vital materials across our borough to help protect residents.

"In an ideal world there wouldn't be a need for these products to exist, but materials like personal alarms and card defenders can really help people. And they'll hopefully make residents more confident and comfortable when going about their daily lives. I encourage any residents who feel they would benefit from the materials to visit either location and pick them up for yourselves."

Helping Hands Foodbank is open every Tuesday and Thursday between 10am – 3pm, and Billericay Foodbank is open Tuesday 2 – 4pm, Thursday 12 – 5pm, Friday 2 – 6pm. Street Pastors is open from 7-11pm on Friday and Saturday. Numbers are limited, and items will be offered on a first come first serve basis.

Over 200 personal alarms have also recently been given to the organiser of an established walking group, who has been distributing these to members of the community to improve their confidence when walking alone.

More information on where to collect one of the 200 personal alarms can be found on the Facebook Group: Basildon Community Walking Group.