Home safety and security

We offer free child safety visits to families with children under five years of age.

Advice on various areas is provided including:

• stair safety
• fire safety
• cord safety
• electrical safety
• smoke alarms, and
• child car seat safety

Visits must only be requested by an agency or body such as a Health Visitor or Social Work.  

This should be done by the agency or body completing the form to Request a Free Child Home Safety Visit.

Please be aware, there may be a short delay before contact is made to arrange a visit.

For more information on Child Home Safety please click on the Good Egg Safety Guide.

We offer free home safety visits for vulnerable adults.

Advice on various areas is provided including:

• falls awareness;
• fire safety;
• electrical safety, and
• smoke alarms.

To arrange a visit fill in the Request a Free Home Safety Visit.

"Safe Secure and Supported at Home" offers a free home security visit to people who have suffered domestic violence and are now separated from the perpetrator.

A home security adviser can visit the home, help with risk assessment and provide information on a range of areas including:

• door and window security;
• security lighting, and
• personal safety.

To arrange a visit fill in the Request a Free Home Security Visit form.

Click here for more information on Domestic Abuse.

Police Scotland prevention officers offer a free security risk assessment with practical and emotional support tailored to individual’s needs.

Advice on various areas is provided including:

• door and window security;
• security lighting;
• cash handling;
• property marking;
• intruder alarms;
• shed and outbuilding security;
• personal safety;
• Neighbourhood Watch, and
• bogus callers and sellers.

To arrange a visit, please email FifePreventandIntervent@scotland.pnn.police.uk

PLEASE NOTE: This e-mail address is not monitored 24/7 and should only be used to request security advice from a Community Safety Officer. This email address should not be used to report crime.

A free home visit can be provided by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. They offer advice on a range of fire safety issues including:

• a fire safety action plan (including advice on what to do if your smoke alarm is activated);
• night time routines;
• smoke detection;
• kitchen safety;
• bedroom safety;
• electrical safety;
• access to the property, and
• smoking issues.

Members of the public

To arrange a visit fill out the Home Fire Safety Visit Form and complete the relevant details.

Partner Agencies

Please report on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service CSET website.

You will be requested to register (once)/log into the CSET system.

When answering Q18 - HAS THIS REQUEST BEEN REFERRED TO FROM A PARTNER AGENCY? Please ensure Yes (Pre Visit) is selected.

Alternatively, you can contact Scottish Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 0731 999 or text the word FIRE to 80800.

Bogus callers and bogus workmen can cause fear and misery, especially to the older and vulnerable members of the community that they tend to target.

Always be on your guard when anyone you’re not expecting calls at your home. A genuine caller will make an appointment first and carry identification with their photograph on it.

Remember to:

• STOP - always check via a window or spy-hole who is at your door. If you do not know the person or are suspicious in any way do not open your door.
• CHAIN - always put the chain on before opening the door.
• CHECK - leave the chain on while you check the identity card carefully. If in doubt check it by phone or ask them to return when you have someone else with you.

For more information from Police Scotland on how to beat bogus callers.

Our independent Trusted Trader scheme has also been established to help customers find a trader that they can trust.

We also have useful information on keeping your money safe.

Because of different standards for fire alarms in different types of home, legislation was introduced in January 2019 which aimed to ensure that everyone in Scotland has the same level of protection whether they own or rent their home.

The standard requires:

• One smoke alarm installed in the room most frequently used for general daytime living purposes
• One smoke alarm in every circulation space on each storey, such as hallways and landings
• One heat alarm installed in every kitchen

All alarms should be ceiling mounted and interlinked. Where there is a carbon-fuelled appliance (such as boilers, fires - including open fires - and heaters) or a flue, a carbon monoxide detector is also required which does not need to be linked to the fire alarms.

The regulations were due to come into force in February 2021, however, in light of difficulties caused by COVID-19, the Scottish Parliament agreed to delay the implementation of this legislation for a period of 12 months to February 2022.

You don't need to wait; installing alarms at the earliest opportunity will provide improved fire safety in your home. Homeowners are responsible for making sure this is done. Tenants should speak to their landlord.

For Telecare clients (Community Alarms), with Smoke/Heat or CO detectors, these are not to be linked into the new system. Instead, they should be treated by any fitter as additional alarms and left alone, ensuring that they still call through to Community  Alarms.

For more information, please visit the Scottish Government website.