Economic Crime Officer recovers over £1 million for victims of fraud in Cheshire

Police Constable Jim Day, of the Force’s Economic Crime Unit, has surpassed his personal target of recovering £1million for vulnerable victims of fraud. 

At the start of 2023, Jim Day, Financial Abuse and Safeguarding Officer from the Force's Economic Crime Unit, set out on a personal mission of recovering £1 million for victims of fraud.

Now, with two months to go until the end of the year, Constable Day has been working with a number of banks across Cheshire in reimbursing 19 victims of economic crime - totalling an impressive £1,160,967.45 in returned funds.

In a recent example of justice being secured for a victim, Jim, and the Economic Crime Unit, secured the returning of funds to a vulnerable adult, a 60-year-old man, who had been defrauded out of £41,000 by group of rogue traders in Ellesmere Port.

The man’s bank had initially refused to refund any money, however Jim continued to fight this decision, turning to Social Services for support.

Through Jim's dedicated work, the bank accepted that the man was a vulnerable victim of crime and fully reimbursed him, with a criminal investigation into the incident now underway.

Police Constable Jim Day, of the Force's Economic Crime Unit, said:

"This journey has been filled with dedication, hard work, and countless hours spent advocating for those in need. It has reinforced my belief that when we come together, great things can be achieved. Every penny recovered is a step towards helping those who have suffered from fraud, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their support system.

"I couldn't have reached this milestone without the invaluable support of an incredible network of colleagues within the Economic Crime Unit. Together, we've demonstrated the power of determination and the impact of community collaboration. This achievement is not just a personal success, but a collective win for all of us who care about justice and standing up for the vulnerable. It's a reminder that no challenge is too great when our hearts are in the right place.

"Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey, and let's continue to work together to make a positive impact and protect those who need it most. Here's to a future filled with even greater successes and the promise of a safer world for all.”

Detective Inspector Helen Rowland, of the Force's Economic Crime Unit, added:

"I am incredibly proud of the work undertaken by Jim and the rest of the team within the ECU.  Their dedication to achieving justice and financial compensation for victims of crime is unrelenting. 

"With fraud accounting for 41% of all recorded crime nationally, this achievement highlights the significant financial impact that fraud has on people within our communities in Cheshire and the responsibility that lies with all officers to ensure safeguarding and appropriate advice and referrals are made available to all victims of financial crime."

If you suspect you have been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately, report the incident to Action Fraud online at www.actionfraud.police.uk  or by calling 0300 123 2040.