A 16-year-old boy was arrested after trying to scam people into giving him money he said was for sponsorship.
Officers from Hylands Safer Neighbourhoods Team received reports from residents who were suspicious about a boy who had been collecting sponsorship money in the area. They said he claimed to be a student at Eastbrook Comprehensive School, Dagenham.
When PCSO Damien Williams was on cycle patrol in Lyndhurst Drive, Hornchurch on January 9 he saw a boy who fitted the description. When he stopped him he admitted he was collecting the money for himself. Officers arrested the boy who was in possession of a number of sponsorship forms and lottery tickets.
He was questioned at Romford Police Station and has since been bailed to return to the station in early February.
Sgt Colin Flynn, of Hylands Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said: “This was an excellent piece of policing by PCSO Williams. This arrest shows the importance of local knowledge and local policing; we will continue to tackle crime on our ward.”
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