Havering Council has run a workshop aimed at protecting vulnerable residents from being conned.

It included a number of agencies that work with vulnerable people and gave advice on how they can help to prevent them from becoming victims of rogue traders.

It was part of the council’s Moneysafe campaign, which also includes its banking protocol scheme. This has prevented elderly and vulnerable people from being conned out of thousands of pounds by working with local banks, the police, Age Concerns and the Havering Community and Police Consultative Group.

They have also written to local taxi firms and offered training as they are often called by a rogue trader to take a vulnerable person to the bank.

DC Andrew Rowley then gave a presentation about Operation Sterling, which aims to tackle junk mail being sent to vulnerable people, claiming that if they send money, they will be able to claim a huge cash prize.

Cllr Geoff Starns, cabinet member for community safety, said: “This award-winning scheme keeps going from strength to strength and I am so pleased it is continuing to protect the savings of vulnerable people who have worked hard for their money, as well as bringing more and more people who work closely with our residents on board.

“We want to show rogue traders that our borough is not easy pickings for them and we will not tolerate them preying on our most vulnerable residents. Everyone can play a role in ensuring they can’t get away with it, from neighbours and friends, to the cab driver and bank worker.”