Scam fears over missing police warrant cards

Figures obtained by the Yorkshire Post under the Freedom of Information Act, show at least 370 ID cards have been lost or stolen from police officers across Yorkshire in the past five years, only a handful of which are understood to have been recovered.

West Yorkshire Police officers lost 83 cards in the past year alone and 10 were stolen. The force says those figures are a result of new reporting processes being established.

The number of lost cards recorded between 2008 and 2009 before the new system was in place, was just one.

Campaigners for elderly residents say there is a worrying trend of criminals targeting vulnerable people in their homes and stealing money by pretending to be police officers as well as utility officials.

Just over a week ago a gang of distraction burglars were jailed for 21 years after tricking their way into the homes of residents in their 70s, 80s and 90s in Scarborough, York and Boston Spa by posing as police officers.

Now urgent action is being demanded to address the number of cards being mislaid.

The Labour MP for Halifax, Linda Riordan, said: “It is very worrying that so many of these cards have been lost and are floating around in Yorkshire. I have never lost my ID card for parliament because I know how it could be used.

“It is a problem and the police need to be more careful. These numbers are not acceptable.”

The fundraising manager for Age UK Leeds, Jo Shepheard, said: “This is a very worrying statistic for elderly people in West Yorkshire.

“It is very worrying that there are hundreds of the cards in circulation – older people need to trust the police.

“Elderly residents are vulnerable and they are targeted especially because they have cash in their houses.

“Age UK Leeds urges people not to allow criminals into their homes if they have any concerns.

“The best way to stop bogus callers is to always ask for ID and to always check it carefully with a chain on the door.”

Warrant cards should contain a photograph of the officer, name and rank, serial number and signature.

There is a magnetic strip on the back which can be used to access police buildings, although this can be instantly deactivated when a card is reported lost.

The vice chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Federation, Pc Jon Christopher, representing rank and file officers, said: “The bulk of officers will wear their warrant cards around their necks and when they finish it goes in their wallets.

“The magnetic strip can be cancelled at the touch of a few buttons but residents are not going to notice the difference if people are acting as bogus police officers.

“This doesn’t negate the fact that somebody can show this to an elderly resident and possibly trick their way into the house.

“It is very serious when one of these cards goes missing.”

The best performing force was Humberside Police, with just 11 cards reported missing or stolen between 2005 and 2010 - two were recovered at a later date.

North Yorkshire Police officers have reported 101 cards lost or stolen in the same time period and say no figures are available for how many have been recovered.

South Yorkshire Police officers have lost 150 and again could not confirm how many had been recovered.

Three men, Miles Connors, 39, Patrick Connors, 18, and James Hanrahan, 39, all of Middlesex, were jailed for 21 years at Newcastle Crown Court on February 25 after admitting charges of conspiracy to burgle and burglary.

They targeted elderly people by posing as police officers, and utility company officials – it is not thought they used warrant cards.