Justice Minister has outlined how partnership
working is building safer communities.
The Minister was speaking at the opening of a scam awareness
conference.
Addressing the ‘Challenging the Scamdemic' conference, highlighted PSNI figures that
show on average more than 100 reports a week* are made to Action
Fraud about fraud in Northern Ireland – resulting in almost
£19million in reported losses.
The Minister said: “The threat associated with scams
continues to increase, with the nature of offending becoming
increasingly enabled by the use of modern technology. Scams are
particularly cruel, often the perpetrators prey on someone's
loneliness, vulnerability, fear or kindness.
“Legislative measures alone will not solve the problem
and that is why my Department is fully committed to working with
all partners, including the community and voluntary sector to
support preventative action, raise awareness and ensure we have a
community where we all feel safe to live and work.”
The event in the Braid Arts Centre was organised by Mid &
East Antrim Agewell Partnership, which supports older people
living in Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus.
Its Executive Director, Jenny Marshall said: “Many older adults
in our community have fallen victim to scams or know someone who
has, often with devastating consequences for individuals and
their families. This highlights the urgent need for awareness and
action at all levels. As a local charity supporting older people,
we are committed to equipping our community with the knowledge
and resources to prevent fraud and financial exploitation. Thanks
to the support of our project funders, who recognise the
importance of this initiative, we have been able to share vital
information on staying safe in an ever-changing world.”
Department of Justice supports several partnerships working to
tackle the threat of scams including:
- Scamwise NI – DoJ is one of more than 45 partners who work
collaboratively to provide information and advice to keep the
public informed, aware and vigilant.
- Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs) – DoJ and
the NIPB provides £4.25m joint annual operational funding to
PCSPs across the 11 council areas.
- Crimestoppers – DoJ contributes 50% funding for the regional
manager's salary.
- Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime –
building community resilience and supporting individuals at risk
of exploitation by paramilitaries.
Notes to editors:
1. *Figures from the PSNI show that in the 12 months ending 31
October 2024 there were over 5,200 reports made to Action Fraud
about fraud in NI.
