Justice Minister Naomi Long has stressed the vital role of partnership working in building safer communities, particularly in the fight against scams. The Minister was speaking at the opening of a conference focused on raising awareness of fraudulent activity.

Addressing the "Challenging the Scamdemic" conference, Ms Long highlighted PSNI figures indicating that Action Fraud receives an average of over 100 reports of fraud each week in Northern Ireland, resulting in reported losses of almost £19 million.

The Minister said, "The threat associated with scams continues to increase, with the nature of offending becoming increasingly enabled by the use of modern technology. Scams are particularly cruel, often the perpetrators prey on someone’s loneliness, vulnerability, fear or kindness." 

She emphasised that legislation alone would not solve the problem, adding, "That is why my Department is fully committed to working with all partners, including the community and voluntary sector to support preventative action, raise awareness and ensure we have a community where we all feel safe to live and work."

The conference, held at the Braid Arts Centre, was organised by Mid & East Antrim Agewell Partnership, an organisation that supports older people in the Ballymena, Larne, and Carrickfergus areas.  Jenny Marshall, Executive Director of the partnership, said, "Many older adults in our community have fallen victim to scams or know someone who has, often with devastating consequences for individuals and their families. This highlights the urgent need for awareness and action at all levels. As a local charity supporting older people, we are committed to equipping our community with the knowledge and resources to prevent fraud and financial exploitation. Thanks to the support of our project funders, who recognise the importance of this initiative, we have been able to share vital information on staying safe in an ever-changing world." 

The Department of Justice actively supports several partnerships aimed at tackling the threat of scams, including:

• Scamwise NI: A collaborative initiative involving over 45 partners, including the Department of Justice, working to provide the public with information and advice to stay informed and vigilant. 

• Policing and Community Safety Partnerships (PCSPs): The Department of Justice, along with the Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB), provides £4.25 million in joint annual operational funding to PCSPs across the 11 council areas.

• Crimestoppers: The Department of Justice contributes 50% of the funding for the regional manager's salary.

Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime: This programme focuses on building community resilience and supporting individuals at risk of exploitation by paramilitaries, which can include involvement in scams.