Community engagement.

On Wednesday 17th June, Kingston Safer Neighbourhood Team officers, PCSO Poulton and PCSO Briggs, attended the Nationwide branch in Kingston town centre as part of ongoing engagement with local businesses and the community.

The visit provided an excellent opportunity for officers to speak directly with members of the public, offering advice on fraud prevention, personal safety, and how to report concerns via Action Fraud. It was encouraging to see strong engagement from customers, with many taking the time to discuss current scam risks and how best to protect themselves.

During the visit, officers were able to support a vulnerable member of the community, who had been targeted by a rogue trader scam. Following swift action by branch staff, a fraudulent payment was successfully prevented. PCSO Poulton and PCSO Briggs spoke with the customer, providing reassurance, helping her to understand the nature of the scam, and offering clear guidance on next steps.

Through a supportive approach, officers were able to help the customer recognise the situation fully. This also enabled appropriate safeguarding steps to be taken, including facilitating contact with family members to ensure they had ongoing support.

This incident highlights the importance of partnership working between local police and businesses in protecting vulnerable individuals and preventing financial crime.

Kingston Police would like to commend the staff at Nationwide for their vigilance and thank all those who engaged with officers on the day. 

If you are concerned about fraud or believe you may have been targeted, please report it to Action Fraud or contact police on 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.

Together, we can help keep Kingston safe.