Residents of West Cumbria are invited to attend two important community drop-in events in Whitehaven this Friday – one offering vital advice on avoiding economic crime from officers of Cumbria Police, and another providing flood-resilience guidance from the Floodmobile team and Environment Agency – organised with the support of local MP Josh MacAlister.
These sessions offer a great opportunity to meet your MP and local specialists, and take away practical tips to protect yourself, your home and your community ahead of winter.
From 10.30am to 2.30pm at the Beacon Museum, economic crime experts from Cumbria Police will be available for one-to-one conversations, sharing top tips on avoiding scams, fake texts or calls, bogus door-to-door traders, and other threats to people’s money and identity. This is part of the force’s “Don’t make their Christmas – fraudsters aren’t fussy, they will pick on anyone” campaign.
Cumbria’s Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, said:
“I’d encourage anyone who has experienced fraud or is potentially at risk to attend the event.
“Here in Cumbria we have a dedicated team to protect you from fraud who will support you every step of the way.
“This is particularly important over the festive period where many criminals will attempt to impersonate friends and family and trick you into handing over cash or security details.”
Between 10am and 4pm on Whitehaven Harbour, the Floodmobile – a specially designed “flood-house on wheels” offering a hands-on demonstration of practical flood resilience – will be open. Visitors will be able to see property-level flood resilience measures for themselves, talk to flood-risk experts, and learn how to make homes and businesses better prepared for flooding.
Mary Long-Dhonau OBE, aka Flood Mary, said:
“This new Floodmobile is an invaluable resource. I helped to design it and it’s packed with the kind of advice and products people often don’t discover until it’s too late. Flood resilience isn’t just about keeping water out – it’s about getting back on your feet faster, with less damage and less suffering.”
Josh MacAlister MP said:
“I’m pleased to bring together Cumbria Police, the Floodmobile and the Environment Agency in Whitehaven this Friday – at what I know can be a very stressful time of year. With fraudsters targeting people when they’re busy or preoccupied, and the increasing risk of flooding, it’s more important than ever for residents to have access to reliable, face-to-face advice.
“Whether you’re concerned about a suspicious call or want to make your home flood-ready, I’d encourage you to come along, talk to the experts and get the peace of mind that comes with being prepared.”
Josh MacAlister MP 