THIS week the Evening Mail has been given exclusive access to police departments and the work they do to keep us safe behind the scenes. On day two Chief Reporter Suzanne Murphy speaks to the woman who tasked with helping the most vulnerable people in our society.

So far this year Sharon Livesey has visited 60 victims of domestic violence and 105 last year in Furness alone as part of her role as crime prevention officer. 

She works for Cumbria police and covers Barrow, Dalton, Ulverston, Broughton and the outlying villages. From the end of the month her area will expand to cover south Lakeland and up to the North Yorkshire border -  an area currently covered by two people but cuts mean she’s now on her own. 

Miss Livesey’s job is vitally important in keeping and building up relationships within communities and helping the vulnerable. This can range from those suffering from anti-social behaviour to domestic abuse victims. 

She also deals with vulnerable adults such as those with mental health issues, the elderly and those suffering sexual abuse. 

Part of her job is conducting home visits and advising on security measures if needed. The crime prevention officer also works with architects and businesses to try to design out crime features in new buildings and make their premises secure -  such as avoiding building recesses where youths can loiter. 

She is also involved in the planning of new homes, such as the new ones in Friars Lane, Barrow, to make sure they are securely designed. 

Miss Livesey says that proposed cuts to the police budget would make things more difficult. She added that her team had been reduced significantly but the workload remained the same and she feared this puts further pressure on all departments. 

Miss Livesey said: “I strongly believe that wherever possible, we should prevent rather than react to crime so that the number of victims can be reduced. Working with partner agencies and the public to identify the needs of the community is a major aspect of my role. 

“I liaise with partners and community groups to identify those most vulnerable and at risk from crime or anti-social behaviour to ensure that the perception or reality of crime is reduced. 

“Myself and the police community support officers help all sorts of different people in the community from repeat victims, domestic violence victims, vulnerable adults and people with mental health issues. We work with partner agencies to make sure people are getting the help they need. We don’t just offer advice but practical measures too. We go out and where appropriate and arrange security measures to be fitted. 

“If the cuts go ahead realistically we are going to have to look at how we deliver this service. Community officers may not be there anymore. 

“If staff numbers are reduced, it could affect successful projects like Streetsafe operations in communities and Junior Citizen schemes for schools. It’s going to be difficult to deliver as we just won’t have the staff. 

“The most vulnerable people often don’t have a voice. An example of such was during one Streetsafe operation knocking on doors, we came across a vulnerable lady in her 60s. She thought the way she was living was okay. She was sleeping on a concrete floor, she had no food, no heating or hot water and rarely went out. 

“She didn’t want to co-operate but I used humour to engage with her at the and the door she eventually started chatting and she eventually let me in. We were able to put a wide range of measures in place, with her permission. But, doing this was all about having the time to help and this is the sort of thing that will be affected. I may not be able to do the three to four visits a day covering the whole of South Cumbria. I will try my best to help as many people as possible but it’s going to be difficult. 

“I think the idea of trying to provide the same level of service with less staff is going to be difficult to sustain. This may well put members of staff in all departments under pressure and stress. You just have to learn to manage that stress. 

“The work that we do can have massive impact on people’s quality of life which gives me a great buzz to be able to make a difference and people to be able to live safely. I am committed to delivering a quality service for those in need throughout Cumbria.”