Bedford’s LibDems have accused the Government of forgetting victims of fraud in Bedfordshire after senior Conservative Ministers overlooked fraud and computer misuse offences when making false claims on falling crime.
There were 4,972 fraud and computer misuse offences referred to Bedfordshire Police last year – up 23.4% on the year before, analysis by Bedford Liberal Democrats reveals.
ONS figures for year ending September 2021
- a 14% increase in total crime, driven by a 47% increase in fraud and computer misuse
- crime excluding fraud and computer misuse decreased by 14%, largely driven by an 18% decrease in theft offences
This is the equivalent of 13 cases each day across Bedfordshire. These victims are part of the four million people across England and Wales who were duped by fraudsters and online scammers last year.
It comes after the UK Statistics Authority last week officially rebuked Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel for misleadingly claiming that crime had fallen, following a letter of complaint by Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael.
Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has since claimed that fraud isn’t something people experience in their day-to-day lives.
Bedford LibDem Spokesperson for Crime, Councillor Tim Caswell said: “Conservative ministers are causing immense hurt to fraud victims in Bedford Borough by dismissing this cruel crime. Many people around here have lost their life savings* to remorseless scammers and suffered huge financial and emotional harm, claims the councillor.”
(*There is no evidence to support this claim.)
“The 4,972 victims of fraud in Bedfordshire last year deserve a proper apology, not only from the Conservative Ministers but from Boris Johnson himself. This government has to start taking their plight seriously.”
