Cash clawed back from con artists in Portsmouth could fund crime prevention

CASH clawed back by the council from con artists and rogue landlords could be used to fund future offender prevention programmes.
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Portsmouth City Council approved a £50,000 reserve to expand on its existing investigations team, which has the power to claim cash and possessions from scammers.

There were hopes this could generate more funds for the council.

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Speaking at a cabinet meeting today (March 10) Councillor Lynne Stagg said: ‘Is there any potential for money to work with young offenders, to head them off at the path so to speak?'

Edward Skinner, lead for the council's regulatory services, said: 'It has long been my ambition to get to build on this to get to a critical mass where we can work with the Safer Portsmouth Partnership.

'All the money we get has all been put back into the service, we only get 37.5 per cent back.

'I am very ambitious and think in the future we will be back before the committee with month to offer for a project.'

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In the last year a total of 682 potential victims of scams were identified in the Portsmouth area. The council's team has supported 92 of those victims.

Cllr Steve Pitt was hopeful the reserve would lead to more fraudsters being taken to court. He said: 'Mainstreaming is the important word in all this. There's been some great work but doing it in quite reserved way. You can't be so risk adverse you say we'll never make losses.

'There are some really dodgy people in the city. There are some are landlords who are exploiting every single planning policy. We will catch you and we will prosecute you.

'You will go to court and we will see you there to be convicted.'

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Community safety boss Cllr Lee Hunt added: 'The team has got a very good track record.

'I'd like to request that the officers report back at regular intervals so I can keep an eye on what's going on.'

It comes after the council signed up to be part of the Friends Against Scams scheme, meaning training will be provided by trading services to council staff and senior officers.

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