Crimewave targets affluent suburbs

A hidden crimewave affecting some of South Yorkshire’s most affluent suburbs has been identified by officers, with the victims most likely to be of pensionable age.

Detectives have established the top 10 areas where residents are targeted for financial fraud – and none are among traditional high-crime areas.

A HIDDEN crimewave affecting some of South Yorkshire’s most affluent suburbs has been identified by police, with the victims most likely to be of pensionable age.

Detectives from the South Yorkshire force have established the top 10 areas where residents are targeted for financial fraud – and none are among the county’s traditional high-crime areas.

All neighbourhoods also have a high percentage of residents aged over 65, an age group which may be more susceptible to telephone or internet scams, which can have severe financial consequences.

The districts where police know residents are most likely to be targeted are Dore and Totley in Sheffield, along with Stannington and west Ecclesfield. In Doncaster, Tickhill and Bessecar are affected, along with Bawtry in Rotherham. Barnsley communities in the east Penistone area, the neighbouring Dodworth district, Birdwell and Hoyland are also prime targets for criminals.

South Yorkshire Police’s head of crime, Detective Chief Superintendent James Abdy, said: “These are not traditional crime areas. It is not as visible. We are looking at communities where the vulnerability comes from people perhaps being wealthier and stepping into the digital world without realising what they are getting into.

“We have to work around education, prevention and making sure vulnerable victims are supported.”

The districts where such crimes happen are those which might have less of a presence from neighbourhood police, due to the lack of traditional physical crimes rather than those committed electronically or via the internet.

The force is now in the process of recruiting a new ‘protect’ officer, who will be expected to come up with bespoke packages to offer services to individuals who need help.

“There is still much more work to do,” said Det Chief Supt Abdy.

Police have been able to identify those areas, and profile the ages of typical victims, with information provided by the organisation Action Fraud. Details are passed to police as part of a system called Operation Signature and since it was invoked, 639 cases have been referred to police.

Now police inspectors responsible for neighbourhood policing are expected to design strategies which suit the circumstances of their own district to tackle the problem.

One tactic is to make new information available to wider family members of potential victims, where they raise concerns that a relative may be at risk.

Officers are also working on a registration scheme which will involve charity and voluntary agencies, allowing them to flag up people they regard as vulnerable to fraud. Financial institutions will then be expected to exercise increased diligence around their transactions.

These are not traditional crime areas. It is not as visible. Det Chief Supt James Abdy of South Yorkshire Police.