THREE people were arrested in a clampdown on suspected bogus charity collectors in Huddersfield.
The joint operation by the police and Kirklees Licensing led to the swoop yesterday to target a group suspected of carrying out an illegal door-to-door charity collection.
Kirklees Licensing had been contacted by several people who had been leafleted by a group in the Birchencliffe, Salendine Nook and Lindley areas about a collection reckoning to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Checks had revealed that there had been no application for a collection licence and the charity had not given agreement for the collection to be carried out in its name.
Police confirmed that two men and a woman were arrested yesterday while making collections of a total of 30 bags of clothing in two vans.
Insp Adrian Waugh, of Huddersfield South Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We are delighted with the success of today’s joint operation, carried out with our partners on the council.
"In making these arrests, I hope that we will have put a stop to activities where people purporting to be from legitimate charities are profiting from the public’s good will.
“This kind of fraud occurs outside of Kirklees, so we hope that this operation sends out a warning to others who may be thinking of committing fraud by falsely representing charities.
“These operations highlight the excellent relationship that exists between the police and our partners and our joint determination to make Kirklees a better place for the law abiding to live in.’’
Kirklees Licensing manager Cath Walter said: “This has been a successful local outcome to a growing national problem of illegal house-to-house collections purporting to be for charitable purposes.’’
He added: “If anyone in the Kirklees area receives a collection leaflet through their door, please don’t hesitate to check that it is legitimate by contacting the licensing service on 01484 456858.”
