Cheshire police welcome launch of Action Fraud to combat identity theft

Feb 2 2010 Chester Chronicle

VICTIMS of fraud and identity theft will welcome the launch of the new Action Fraud initiative.

The National Fraud Authority (NFA) in the North West region is rolling out its contact centre which will provide a single point of contact for members of the public to report fraud and gain vital crime prevention advice.

The initiative has been greeted with enthusiasim by Cheshire Constabulary’s Assistant Chief Constable Phil Thompson.

Fraud has been described as a ‘silent crime’ but it is not a victimless crime. It knows no boundaries and deeply affects tens of thousands of people in the UK each year.

It is a crime that is second only to the illegal drugs trade in terms of its impact on the UK, and on average, it costs each adult living in the UK around £621 per year.

But the human cost is even higher because proceeds of fraud are often used to fund serious crimes such as drug smuggling and people trafficking.

Assistant Chief Constable Thompson said: “Officers in our economic crime unit and across the force work hard on fraud investigations in Cheshire and have a lot of success.

“Over the last decade the increased use of digital storage for personal and business information has led to more criminals using technology to defraud the ordinary person on the street.

“Over the last decade the increased use of digital storage for personal and business information has led to more criminals using technology to defraud the ordinary person on the street.

“The launch of Action Fraud provides another avenue for Cheshire Constabulary to investigate fraud. It gives us access to the latest national intelligence and technology.

“A national reporting centre means we will be in a much stronger position to tackle fraud which often involves criminals who do not live in Cheshire or even the UK.

“By working together, Action Fraud and Cheshire Constabulary will be able to offer a better level of service to the public and, ultimately, bring more offenders to justice.”

If individuals or business operators have been a victim of fraud in the last 12 months and want to report a fraud, they are encouraged to call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or Textphone 0300 123 2050.