Coronavirus: Police support the elderly and isolated as doorstep scams rise in lockdown

Frontline police officers in parts of London are making the most of the fall in crime during lockdown to help the most vulnerable in society.

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in fewer burglaries and assaults but criminals are taking the opportunity to target the elderly and most isolated across the country.

It means an initiative set up last summer in Croydon called Operation Nogi, aimed at supporting the elderly and isolated, is needed more than ever – and there are now more officers like Sergeant Liam Hack available to help out.

“We have seen a rise in the trend of coronavirus doorstep scams where people are going around and offering to get money out for people or bring supplies to their house in exchange for goods or money,” he said, as Sky News followed him on one of his shifts.

“Elderly people love to see people in uniform turn up. We are there to just give them the confidence to say no to people and keep them up to date on key questions to be asking, whether it be somebody at the door or someone ringing their phone.”

Steve Crosby, 93, has been targeted twice by criminals recently. On one occasion, he was followed home by a woman claiming to be a carer who then snatched his coat and ran.

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He was one of the elderly people visited by Sgt Hack and his colleague Sgt Greg Peart in his flat. He was given groceries courtesy of a high street supermarket, information from Trading Standards about scams and the chance of a chat.

Mr Crosby enjoyed the visit which was conducted from the doorstep due to social distancing.

Referring to the lockdown, he said: “It’s been absolute hell. Not to mix with people, to stay indoors and watch people on TV. It’s not enough for me.”

Officers working on Operation Nogi are given referrals by social services or other officers and the different agencies then work together to resolve issues.

In the case of Dennis, whom the officers went to visit next, the team was alerted after criminals jumped over his back gate and broke his fence during the lockdown.

But the officers are not from a safer neighbourhood team. Even before the pandemic, Operation Nogi was the work of police more used to responding to 999 calls.

“We normally work as part of an emergency response team in Croydon which lends itself to us seeing the worst in society a lot of the time,” said Sgt Peart.

“During the lockdown, there has been a 37% reduction in crime and policing demand across the borough. This has allowed us more time to spend with initiatives like this.”

Back at the police station, the council was contacted so action could be taken to get Mr Crosby a new door, after it was damaged during a burglary.

The initiative seems to be working in south London and discussions have begun to quickly expand it across the capital. The hope is that it will eventually cover the UK.

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Police support the elderly and isolated as doorstep scams rise in lockdown