Safe through everyday life: new partners for senior prevention in Mettmann!

Safe through everyday life: new partners for senior prevention in Mettmann!

On April 30, 2025, a new step was taken to promote the security of seniors in the Mettmann district. Members of the "Action Alliance Senior Safety" (ASS!) Actively support the district police authority in prevention work. In a solemn event, six new security partners were trained, who will provide information and security in their hometowns in the future.

The new security partners are Angelika Grützmacher from Hilden, Martina Linden from Ratingen, Nicole Mechsner from Haan, Jean-Paul Michel from Wülfrath, Annemarie Mittag from Langenfeld and Bernhard Voss from Haan. They will often be found at the police information stands at weekly markets, city festivals and senior citizens' meetings, where they will share their experiences and knowledge of security issues. Particularly noteworthy is the advantage of these voluntary partners, who are mostly in retirement age and can therefore establish a better connection to other seniors.

training and commitment

The event for training took place in the main building of the district police authority Mettmann, and was headed by police chief commissioner Simone Hakenberg. The senior police director Thomas Schulte and District Administrator Thomas Hendele welcomed the new security partners and appreciated their future commitment. This initiative is an important part of the security strategy in a circle, which aims to strengthen the feeling of security of the older generation.

The seniors can not only inform themselves by the security partners, but also experience lectures on relevant topics. These include, for example, dangers such as theft, fraud and the right behavior in road traffic. The Hessian police also offers extensive advisory services to address it, To educate seniors comprehensively about forms of crime and to convey strategies to avoid dangerous situations.

an example from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

The concept of security partners is not new and is increasingly spreading in different federal states. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the “Senior Security Advisor” project has been launched since 2014, which pursues similar goals. Here, former police employees act as consultants for seniors and offer educational events to protect against crime and to promote the feeling of security. Topics include behavior at the front door and special dangers such as telephone fraud, known for various tricks that specifically address seniors.

Such projects show that the security needs of citizens, especially in the elderly, are taken seriously in many regions. These initiatives not only promote protection against crime, but also the social exchange among seniors, which improves the general well-being. Consulting offers and events are important elements that can enable easy access to information at the same time.

Overall, the commitment of the new security partners is a valuable asset for the district of Mettmann. Interested citizens can find out about individual consultations and lectures by the district service officers of their municipality. Contact details are available on the website of the Action Alliance Senior Safety to enable a direct line to support.