Police recruit stops youth’s scout scam
Friday 20th February 2009, 11:45AM GMT.
A youth pretending to be from the scouts called at more than 50 homes in Shrewsbury as part of a scam to get money from householders, police revealed today.
But he was traced and stopped by a student police officer who wrote to every home targeted for more information.
Colin Robinson, now a constable, was put forward for a Divisional Commendation for his work.
He was nominated by his supervising officer, Sergeant Keith Steele, following his detailed investigation, which detected a total of 29 offences.
The award has now been approved by Shropshire Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Andy Rowsell.
The citation says Constable Robinson provided reassurance to the community through his “investigative skills, driving performance and personal responsibility”.
Sergeant Steele said that even though in the early stages of his career, Constable Robinson had shown an aptitude to detect crime.
It began when Constable Robinson attended an incident involving a youth, claiming to be involved with scouts, knocking on doors and asking for money.
Description
Constable Robinson found 54 householders had been approached.
“By speaking to the residents, Colin was able to obtain a description and after a search of the area, located the youth,” said Sergeant Steele.
“He then arranged for the suspect and a parent to attend the police station for interviewing and in due course, the youth was arrested. He was then released on police bail to allow more time for further investigations.
“Colin sent out letters to the 54 addresses where the youth had either obtained or attempted to obtain money through false claims and received a total of 35 replies.
“This work was in line with the constabulary’s Four Better Outcomes – tackling crime, protecting the public, promoting community safety and improving public satisfaction and confidence.
“Armed with these replies, he obtained numerous statements about the offences and eventually was able to detect 29 offences of fraud by false representation.”
The youth was given a final warning about the offences and his future behaviour.
By Rhea Parsons
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What a complete waste of time and money!
‘The youth was given a warning about his behaviour’
sad state of affairs our crime & punishment!
As a tax payer, I want real Policing!!!
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Those aren’t car alarms thats the dawn chorus. And neither is that a siren.
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i give this new copper 12 months until he is fed up with all the paper work and leaves the force.
who care’s fair play to the lad for coming up with the sceme!
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So we have 29 detected crimes for the statistics. The actual outcome of which is a “warning”. In effect now we could have a further 29 serious crimes committed and we will have a 50% detection rate. It is good work.
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I do not believe it . It took all that time and effort and i am also talking about the time of the householders who took time out to speak to the constable and the little low life gets a little bittle telling off .Well thats that then no down the road of crime for him he must be shakeing in his boots for gods sake they may as well have got one of these cso on to it it and keep their minds active . This country is going deeper down the pan every day.
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Just what was his crime? If was pretending to be a Scout doing bob-a-job, I wouldn’t have complianed if he had was my car for 5p and wasn’t really a Scout.
Quite frankly if the Scouts did more for the community like picking up litter and helping old people dig their gardens, then fraudsters like this wouldn’t be able to operate undetected.
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Perhaps Lucy W would like to offer some help to her local Scout Group and then she would be able to see the amount of community work that they actually take part in.
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Teresa: I’d love to but probably wouldn’t pass the CRB check – even if I did, I don’t want all the local gossipers knowing about my misdemeanours in the dim and distance. That is a problem with the CRB checks, alot of people who could contribute to the comunitity are alienated because they stole a bar of chocolate when they were a teenager.
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im getting my scout outfit made as we speak, i mean since we are in the credit crunch i may as well gice it a go. lol!
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You’ve hit the nail fairley and squarely on the head Lucy W.
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I don’t want to rain on his parade but this is just basic police work,why does it warrant a commendation? Under Home Office counting rules I think it will count as just one detected crime, if I’m wrong I’ll stand corrected.I’m just surprised the local councillor hasn’t popped out of the woodwork claiming credit for it as well.
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Some kid out to earn a few quid, this has happened for years. Maybe the police should now put in the same effort on real crime when its reported rather than just fobbing people off.
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An example of our Criminal sentencing. Jade Goody’s husband sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for a serious assault last September, he was released in January having served less than 5 months.
Yesterday, Jack Straw allowed him to “not comply” with his license and curfew requirements in order to spend the night with his wife.
We shouldn’t wonder why things are going wrong all around us, we live in a mad, mad , mad, mad world, brought about by those who said, “TOUGH ON CRIME, TOUGH ON THE CAUSES OF CRIME”. When are we going to be tough on criminals, they are laughing all the way to the bank.
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i blame the EU and labour for this, when i was a boy scouts were honest, god save the Queen, labour has corrupted them
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Stuart said: Feb 21st, 2009 at 2:13 pm “When are we going to be tough on criminals, they are laughing all the way to the bank.”
I think you meant to add “with balaclavas and saw off shot guns”?
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Lucy you dont have to be a scout to do more for your community, go on gal see what you can do.
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Morgan: I do lots or my community. Will often clear up fly tipping. The wood I heat my home with and the metal gets sorted for scrap. Clothes I donate to charity.
I would gladly throw the rest on the pick-up and drop it off at the tip. I even have a Waster Carrier Licence but the council won’t accept it.
They would rather send an officer out to look at it, make a report, then send a pickup with three men to collect it and take it to the tip, sort what they can and bury the rest.
Well that’s their choice of how to waste public money, but don’t think I’m not prepared to help my community more – its the do-gooders and jobs-worths that are stifling community adhesion.
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Stuart, Jade Goodys Husband has a tag and has to be at his Mothers house by 7pm every night (conditions of his bail awarded to many people. He was allowed to waver this curfew for one night (his wedding night to his dying Wife who only has a few weeks left). The police knew where he was.
Anyone with a heart can understand why this was allowed. Some of you really need to stop moaning and complaining about everything and take a look at the bigger picture.
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