New one-stop shop to tackle fraud
Police in Suffolk and Norfolk have began using a national fraud reporting centre to improve investigations and reduce the amount of time officers spend responding to crime.
Last Monday (January 14) both forces began using Action Fraud, which deals with reports online or over the phone instead of them being dealt with by local police.
Since www.actionfraud.police.uk was launched it has had more than a million visitors.
Crimes are then transferred to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau of the City of London Police.
All UK police forces have agreed to participate in the Action Fraud scheme by April.
Head of the joint serious and organised crime directorate Detective Superintendent Alan McCullough said: “Joining Action Fraud will provide both forces with an enhanced and consistent service to victims of fraud. Where the victim is reporting a crime that requires action there and then, or is assessed to be vulnerable, we will continue to deal with the report as normal. But for all other reports, the victim will make contact with Action Fraud, by logging on to its website or via the telephone.
“Increased intelligence helps prevent other people from becoming victims themselves - your information can help to root out fraudsters and prevent future crimes.
“In addition, a central collection of crime reports enables seemingly unrelated incidents from around the country to be linked through analysis, helping identify networks of criminals.
“Clearly, such a system has the potential to save us hundreds of hours spent filling in reports.
“It provides the public throughout the UK with one single point of contact and will mean that our time is spent investigating and preventing such offences in the first place”.
To report to Action Fraud call 0300 1232040, Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm and weekends 9am to 5pm
For all the latest news see Thursday’s (January 31) Echo.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Haverhill
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 12 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
