A victory in fight against bogus callers
Ben Ramage
A joint effort to crackdown on “despicable” doorstep crime in Wishaw has been branded a success.
The partnership between Police and Trading Standards hoped to snare criminals who were targeting people’s homes.
Over a four-month period, North and South Lanarkshire Council Trading Standards officers joined with Police Scotland’s Lanarkshire Division on Operation Doric – which targets crooks perpetrating doorstep crime.
The project, which took place between May 1 and August 30, saw 12 men reported to the Procurator Fiscal in connection with alleged fraud offences totalling around £370,000.
Trading Standards officers also took action against eight people who breached the Enterprise Act 2002, with the offences amounting to almost £200,000.
Paul Bannister, Trading Standards manager at North Lanarkshire Council, believes this proves the project was successful.
He said: “We will continue to take the most robust enforcement action available to target criminals, with the aims of making our communities safer and ensuring those who break the law do not benefit from it.
“Further joint working through this partnership initiative with Police Scotland’s Lanarkshire Division and our neighbours in South Lanarkshire Council has again demonstrated we can better achieve results working together than we can in isolation.
“Working together helps us to deliver on one of our key Community Safety Partnership outcomes; reducing the harm caused to communities by organised crime groups.”
The team also combated other types of crime including visits to shops in Lanarkshire, where more than £150,000 worth of counterfeit goods were recovered.
Detective Inspector Colin Campbell, who heads up the Operation Doric team, said: “The people who commit doorstep crime are despicable. They deliberately target elderly and vulnerable people and defraud them of their life savings.
“The support from our partner agencies at North and South Lanarkshire Council is essential in the fight against crime.
“This secondment has again shown how joint working and intelligence gathering can really impact our commitment to reducing crime.”
Mr Campbell also warned people to trust their instincts when people knock on their door unannounced.
He added: “If someone attends at your door and you are not expecting them don’t let them in.
“If someone comes to your door about repairs that need carried out, please alert a neighbour or family member to their presence, and for any advice and assistance, please contact Police on 101. A lot of these fraudsters can appear legitimate, but be wary and don’t be afraid to say no.”