Family Resource Boards
Members of the Devon and Cornwall branch of the Christian Police Association have teamed up with the charity Care for the Family and local churches to provide free resources to colleagues to support family life. It is widely recognised that working within the police service can create unique stresses on individuals and their families, sadly reflected in a high number of marriage break downs. The aim of this initiative is to encourage and support individuals through those stresses and help reverse that trend.
The boards provide police staff with free books, videos, magazines and audio cassettes produced by Care for the Family on a range of issues covering parenting including single parenting, marriage, maintaining a healthy work life/home life balance, dealing with stress, bereavement and debt management.
Care for the Family is a registered charity that has been supporting families in the UK since 1988. It was founded by the well-known author and speaker Rob Parsons. Its family-building events have been attended by over 250,000 people and many more have been helped through special initiatives. Care for the Family’s work is motivated by the Christian Faith, but their events and resources are open to those of all faiths and none.
The boards and resources are displayed prominently in police stations around the force area and so give individual members of staff anonymous access to support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The boards are funded through donations from local churches, the Ian Main Memorial Trust, and individuals both within and outside the police service and are then maintained by local Christian members of staff. If you would like to sponsor a board in your local station, make a donation to the ongoing work or purchase a board for your own place of work, then please contact us
Cops and Robbers Initiative
In 2007 members of the CPA secured authorisation to provide persons detained in custody within Devon & Cornwall with access to comics that contain real life stories of those once involved in addiction and crime who have seen their lives transformed. The people involved say that the transformation they have experienced was a result of a personal encounter with God.
The comics called 'Cops and Robbers' were developed by a Christian Police officer in London and are now used in prisons, rehabilitation units and many other establishments across the country. It says in Isaiah 59: ' The arm of the Lord is not too short to save!' The message of the comics reflects this simple but powerful message: That no one is beyond hope and that God's love for them is absolute no matter what they have done.
There are many people living locally who were once prolific criminals but who have not only stopped committing crime, but have now given their lives to working with others living chaotic lives to encourage them away from crime and to new life in Jesus.
Whether you believe or not, Christianity clearly has a contribution to make here in reducing crime. This is not about pushing religion down people's throats but is about allowing people the opportunity to consider where their life is going and seek support if they want to. The comics displayed have a contact number for local support from Christians who have experience in dealing with those struggling with crime, addiction and chaotic lives. We are hoping to feature some of these local life stories on this web site soon.