In August 2022 the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) provided additional funding to the PCC to support the local Victim Service.
It was agreed that £31,784 of the additional funding would be used to appoint a part-time Fraud Financial Advocate (FFA.)
The aim was to help fraud victims recover financial losses and to provide advice on how to reduce the risk of repeat victimisation. The pilot ran from 19 September 2022 to 31 March 2023.
Successful pilot
An evaluation towards the end of the pilot showed that the role had been very successful in recovering financial losses.
During that period, 33 victims of fraud were supported. Twenty two of those victims received 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 to victims was £202,795.
At the time of the evaluation, 19 of the supported victims had claims outstanding. The total value of claims was £831,906.
The evaluation also highlighted the success of the role in preventing repeat victimisation.
Ninety per cent of those, who completed a questionnaire, said they were more aware of how fraudsters operated. As a result, they were more aware of how to prevent themselves from becoming fraud victims in future.
Not extended
MOJ funding for the post was time-limited and the pilot could not be extended through core victims’ funding.
Now the role, which will be based at Safer Communities, is being re-instated for a further, one-year pilot period. Funding will come through the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA.)
Equal contributions will come from the OPCC and each of Cleveland’s four Local Authority Trading Standards teams.
The FFA role will help vulnerable victims to pursue compensation from banks, when there is evidence that they failed in their duty to protect customers’ accounts.
The full-time postholder will work 2.5 days in North Cleveland (Hartlepool and Stockton) and 2.5 days in South Cleveland (Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland).
The OPCC is providing £10,832.20 in POCA with equal contributions from each of Cleveland’s four Trading Standards’ departments.
Decision 2024/25 – 0006: POCA funding for Financial Fraud Advocate role (application, 173kB)