A successful scheme aimed at supporting Cleveland’s fraud victims has been given a cash boost to continue.
Cleveland’s four councils plus the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland have agreed to fund a full-time Fraud Financial Advocate (FFA.) The role will be based at Stockton’s Safer Communities
Previously, a part-time FFA was successful in securing at least £202,795 of financial benefits for victims. Benefits included cash refunds and the cancellation of fraudulently obtained loans.
However, time-limited funding from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) ran out and the part-time post expired.
Now Trading Standards Teams at Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool Councils along with the OPCC have backed a move to fund a full-time FFA.
The post is funded from the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA.) That means money netted by criminals and later seized by the police, Trading Standards and the courts will fund the work
The role will help to recover cash for victims and prevent further victimisation.
The FFA will help vulnerable victims to pursue compensation from banks, when there is evidence that they failed in their duty of care to protect customer accounts.
They will also provide victims with advice on how to spot the scammers and prevent further victimisation.
The new post will be split between North Cleveland (Hartlepool and Stockton) and South Cleveland (Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland). The post holder will spend two and a half days in each area.
Each Trading Standards Team will invest £10, 832.20 of POCA funding with the same coming from Cleveland OPCC to fund the role for a pilot period of one year.
Improving physical and emotional welfare
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland Matt Storey said: “Recovering financial losses goes a long way towards improving the physical and emotional welfare of victims but the FFA service will not replace the expert support provided by VCAS Victim Care Officers.
“Having both FFA and Victim Care Officers based within the same organisation means these two distinct areas of support can work together more easily to provide wraparound support.
“I have heard first-hand from victims about the life-changing consequences of fraud and it can ruin lives. I have no doubt the work the advocate will do on behalf of local people will have a huge impact and right some of those wrongs. “
An evaluation of the initial pilot showed support was provided for 33 fraud victims, with 22 of them receiving either full or partial reimbursement, totalling £170,298. In addition, two fraudulently obtained loans were cancelled, together valued at £32,500.
That means the total financial benefit for victims was £202,795 during the period.