doorstep crime specialist crime division national safer communities department preventions
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Doorstep Crime
Specialist Crime DivisionNational Safer Communities Department Preventions
SCD Preventions – 2013 / 2014
Prioritising a national response to ‘Doorstep Crime’:
•keeping people safe and protecting vulnerable groups
•Increase community confidence
•Improve community safety
•Improve criminal justice process
What is Doorstep Crime?
•Bogus WorkerSomeone who offers to carry out work at inflated prices,often not completing the work, or completed to poorstandard.
• Bogus OfficialSomeone who claims to be from a utility orother company in order to gain access andsteal money or items of value
• Bogus RepresentativeSomeone who claims to be from an organisationSuch as a charity or bank, with the aim of inducing moneyor gaining bank details
• Bogus ImpersonatorSomeone who claims to be a recognised professional,Such as a social worker or Police Officer to gain accessfor financial or other gain
Why?
Victim Profile
• Perceived Vulnerability
• Age (70+)
• Female
• Often live alone
• Operation Liberal noting increase in disabled victims (England & Wales)
Doorstep Crime – What we Know
Under-reporting• Embarrassment
• Fear (Repeat Victimisation)
• Not realising they have been subject to a crime or offence
• Perceived lack of confidence in services
Related Figures
• OFT: 15,000 ‘bogus trading’ cases reported each year
• Average payment made to ‘bogus traders’ is set at £2,000
• Goods & Services sold via doorstep is reported to be at least £2.4 billion
Doorstep Crime – The Future
By 2035…
2 years and 8 months after the initial crime, victims are 2.4
times more likely to have died or be in residential care.
Home Office, Distraction Thefts
Types of Doorstep Criminals
• Opportunistic & Organised
• Domestic & Incoming (Predominantly England or Northern Ireland) are formed around family links, through several generations, with a fluid hierarchy.
• Incoming OCGs tend to travel around Scotland, unlike most domestic groups
“Seasonal Migration”
How are victims identified
- Proximity to major Arterial Roads
- High population of older residents
- Outward appearance of house
- Vulnerable individuals may be followed home
- Cold calling used to ‘canvass’ area
- Personal details sold / transferred between groups
• Markings identified in England (2009), which have been used to identify ‘vulnerable’ or otherwise individuals.
Police Scotland’s Response
• ‘Operation Monarda’ , Police Scotland’s national response to Doorstep Crime, was created for launch in September 2013 and asked all 14 divisions to work on areas of:
- Prevention- Intelligence - Enforcement- Reassurance
Operation Monarda was derived from best practice, where positive evaluation was given by the Scottish Community Safety Network
and the Scottish Government.
Operation Monarda – National Media
A campaign was launched to raise awareness of the crime and advise people on how to
protect themselves from doorstep con artists.
1. 1. 1. 1.
Police Scotland Highland and Islands Division are taking part in a national awareness raising campaign against
bogus callers to reduce victims of doorstep crime.
Advice to Communities
Op Monarda II – 7th – 18th April 2014
Operation Monarda took place for the second time in Police Scotland’s history, from the 7th – 18th April 2014
This has stemmed from a recent problem profile that was created at the request of Assistant Chief Constable Ruaraidh Nicolson, and comes into line with a UK wide
operation guided by ACPO
As such, Police Scotland liaised nationally with Operation Liberal (Intelligence hub for England, Wales & Northern Ireland), ensuring a cross-border approach is maintained
Care & Repair Scotland
•What has been your experience of Doorstep Crime (Rogue Trading) through Care & Repair Scotland?
•How can Care & Repair Scotland further help to protect people in our communities and prevent this crime type?
Jamie ToalNational Safer Communities Preventions DepartmentSpecialist Crime Division5 Fettes AvenueEdinburgh
0131 311 3210