New partnership launched to help fight fraud in Nottinghamshire

Caroline Henry, Nottinghamshire police and crime commissioner, chaired the inaugural Fraud Partnership forum meeting, pulling together agencies from across the county to work more closely together on tackling the issue.

Partners include Nottinghamshire Police, Trading Standards, Citizens Advice, Victim Care, the Department for Work and Pensions, Mencap and Age Concern.

Mrs Henry said: “Fraud impacts some of the most vulnerable people in the county and it is heart-breaking to hear some of the cruel stories, including how people have been conned out of their life savings.

“It is a growing problem affecting more people as fraudsters become more sophisticated.

“We are determined to fight back and stop Nottinghamshire people having their hard-earned cash taken.

“Fraud is a continually evolving threat that can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on its victims.

“Not only does it result in financial loss, it also causes mental and physical trauma. Many businesses don’t report fraud as they are concerned about sanctions, or the potential reputational impact it could have.

“By working together in this partnership, we hope to raise awareness, prevent repeat victimisation, share information on trends and collaborate on a better collective response to fraud.”

Detective Inspector Ashley Xavier said: “Whether it’s a simple trick or sophisticated high-tech online scam, fraud is a callous offence. Not only do fraudsters inflict financial loss on their victims, they also cause an enormous amount of emotional hurt and pain.”

If you are affected by fraud or cybercrime, call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, or 999 an emergency.

You can also report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.