Protocols put in place to protect
The Banking Protocol, launched in 2018, is a joint initiative between Police Scotland, Trading Standards and local banks.
Since its launch, the scheme has prevented over £174 million of fraud, and led to over 900 arrests. The scheme aims to prevent frauds by identifying victims who are in the process of being scammed. Bank staff are trained to identify uncharacteristic transactions and ask questions to identify if a fraud is taking place.
These transactions could include moving large sums of money to a new or overseas account or withdrawing a large amount. Staff may ask questions like: What is the money going to be used for? Was this withdrawal or transaction planned or unexpected? Have you had a call or been approached, claiming you have been a victim of fraud or offered an investment? Have you been contacted by someone claiming they are police, bank staff or a trader?
If staff suspect a customer is the victim of a fraud in progress, they will contact police, who will attend at the branch, speak with the customer and investigate.
Victims of fraud are often vulnerable or elderly. Customers assisted by the scheme are offered ongoing support to help prevent them from falling victim to scams in the future, including referrals to social services, expert fraud prevention advice and additional checks on future transactions. For more information, please visit www.scotland.police.uk
In February, police were called to the Larkhall area following a report that a male had presented a knife and robbed a quantity of cash from a female. The male had also allegedly assaulted the female by punching and kicking her, and had caused damage to her vehicle. Police attended the area and quickly traced the male, who was not in possession of a knife. The male was allegedly violent, spitting at the officers and attempting to bite them, and making attempts to cause damage to the police vehicle.
A 38-year-old male was arrested and has been charged with offences including robbery, assault, culpable and reckless conduct, police assault and resist arrest.
On February 20, police were called to an address in the Hamilton area following a report that a male had assaulted a female by grabbing her hair and punching her face.
On police arrival the male allegedly challenged the officers to fight. He allegedly refused to comply with instructions to desist, and went on to violently resist arrest, spit on and attempted to head-butt the officers and attempt to throw an officer down a flight of stairs.
A 52-year-old male was arrested and charged with various offences.