In good hands Safeguarding adults at risk from scams a collaborative approach: a Brunel University/CTSI conference. Brian Smith recounts events C TSI was asked to co-host a conference with Professor Priscilla Harries, head of clinical sciences department at Brunel University in Uxbridge, for the second year. In the past year, the Care Act has been introduced in England and Wales and the trading standards profession has progressed several initiatives. Showcasing the professions partnership working was well illustrated by the fact that ve of the 10 speakers attending the conference were from trading standards, while a quarter of the audience was from a trading standards profession. The range of the remaining three-quarters was incredibly diverse: regulators, social care, health, the voluntary sector and, unexpectedly, nance professionals were in attendance. It even included a Scottish local authority chief executive. Obviously, the introduction of the Care Act formed a particular focus of attention. This was addressed by Nick Ellender, the Care Act implementation lead ofcer for Worcestershire. The impact of safeguarding in Scotland, the adult protection legislation on our profession was shown by keynote speaker, Ruth Andrews. Her investigations and safeguarding unit at North Yorkshire Trading Standards offers an exemplar of good practice for other professions, as well as our own. The multi-agency nature of her unit, covering police, social work and trading standards, illustrates both the relevance and value that trading standards can still show within the sometimes awed and often criticised current local authority structure. The theme of collaboration to benet the vulnerable in our society was well illustrated by presentations from Paul Holland, of Renfrewshire, Katherine Hart of Fife, Andy Henderson of City of London, and Richard Clarke of the National Trading Standards Scam Team, who showed how partnerships at local, national and international levels were being forged and how these could disrupt organised crime. Trading standards is partnering myriad organisations 47 in East Renfrewshire alone which the profession can work with to make a difference to vulnerable consumers lives. The partner agencies who spoke added variety and richness to the subject. These included examples of their research (Age UK) and practical enforcement (City of London Trading Standards and police) and their changing processes (Royal Bank of Scotland and Royal Mail). The presentation showed that trading standards can continue a traditional enforcement role, as well as forming a unique and vital element in adult safeguarding initiatives. Mark Fenton-OCreevy, professor of organisational behaviour at the Open University, gave a presentation on the psychology of scams from the perspective of both the victim and the perpetrator. This made everyone consider what they thought they knew about scams. Professor Keith Brown drew together much of the can-do spirit of the day and praised the enthusiasm and commitment of the trading standards speakers. He intends to harness their work in his research on behalf of the National Scams Teams. This can only be of benet to the professions national status while enhancing the perceived relevance of trading standards professionals at the heart of multi-agency work protecting vulnerable consumers. I doubt anyone who attended the conference was not touched or impressed and sometimes shocked by what was presented. The impact of loneliness as a causal factor in the prole of victims was a repeated theme. The story of an elderly woman who, through loneliness, fell prey to scammers, and phoned her own answering machine to hear another human voice, was just one example of how loneliness can make a person more vulnerable to fraudsters. Another victim said she would have nothing to live for if the scam mail stopped. There were many such stories presented during the day. Such challenges can only be met by effective collaboration between all sectors. It is clear that trading standards is now being recognised as having a unique and vital role. The nal sign of the conferences success was the desire expressed by Professor Harries and Mary Gilhooly, Professor of Gerontology at Brunel, that they would like to host a similar event with CTSI in the future. One victim said she would have nothing to live for if the scam mail stopped Credits Published You might also like Brian Smith is a CTSI lead ofcer for crime Tuesday 27 October, 2015 Making the links, page 20 TS Review, and disorder, and a senior trading ofcer at Angus Council communities department (environmental and consumer protection). Images: Richard Lyons / Shutterstock August 2015 issue. To share this page, click on in the toolbar