“The fraud works by the suspect telephoning the victim and claiming to be someone from an authority – usually the police, bank or Serious Fraud Office. They tell them that their bank account has been compromised and their card must be collected.

The most convincing element of the ruse is that the suspect instructs the victim to hang up and call the police/bank/Serious Fraud Office on a genuine number to check that they are who they say they are.

The victim dials the new number but the fraudster does not disconnect so, unknown to the victim, they are still speaking to the suspect or a co-conspirator.

The fraudster then convinces the victim to reveal their PIN, usually by typing it in on their keypad. The suspect is able to tell which keys have been pressed.

They then instruct the victim to put their bank card in an envelope and send a – usually unwitting – courier or taxi driver to the victim’s house to collect it. The card is delivered to another suspect and is used, with the PIN, to empty the victim’s bank account.

Police have identified that Criminal Groups are behind the fraud but despite arresting many of these, courier fraud is continuing as new Criminal Groups take over and convince victims that they are genuine.

The ongoing scam has impacted every borough and claimed 2,229 victims – mostly elderly – in two years.”

The Key Crime Prevention pointers are :

• Police and banks will never ask for your PIN or bank card
• Never give your PIN or bank card to anyone
• If you are contacted by someone who asks for these, hang up
• Use a different line to report it to police on 101 or allow at least five minutes for the line to automatically clear. Call 999 if the crime is in action.

We hope that as many local residents as possible will come along to the meeting.  It is being held on:

Thursday 18th April at 6.30pm until 8pm

at:

St Luke’s Church Hall, Pentridge Street (off Chandler Way)

See you there!

Don’t forget, if you haven’t yet signed the petition for better buses on Southampton Way, it’s here

The 2013 Camberwell Free Film Festival runs from Thursday 14th to Sunday 24th March.  The programme includes two film double-bills being shown at venues on Southampton Way:

Friday 15th March

The Big Lebowski + Brother From Another Planet

at Cool Cats Café, 149 Southampton Way, 8pm

Sunday 24th March

Best in Show followed by Hairspray

at The Flying Dutchman, corner of Southampton Way and Wells Way, 6pm

Admission to these events is, of course, free 

Later this year, a Free Film Festivals will return to Peckham and Nunhead.  EQRA hosted a screening of Toy Story 3 in Calypso Gardens as part of last year’s festival.  We hope to put another film on in September this year (hopefully on a less rainy evening!), as part of the 2013 Peckham & Nunhead Free Film Festival.  If you would like to help us, please get in touch by e-mail

Our local councillors, both here in Peckham ward and in the neighbouring Brunswick Park ward, are starting a fresh campaign to get the bus service on Southampton Way improved.

Take a look at the Facebook page, and PLEASE sign the petition here!

Don’t forget, if you have a problem with our local bus service, you can complain to Transport for London by phone (0845 300 7000, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., closed at weekends) or online, by clicking here.

There is a small amount of formal business which we are required to do as an organisation, but we hope that won’t take up much time.  We will keep the meeting as informal as we can 

We are going to invite someone along to give a short talk on a subject which is relevant to us locally.  The meeting is also a great opportunity to meet other people who live locally.  And if you are interested in getting involved in your local neighbourhood, there’s another reason to come along!

Hope to see you there – we’ll provide the refreshments.

The programme is available on BBC iPlayer here until next Tuesday (15th January).  Southampton Way is towards the beginning of the programme, from 2:52 to 4:11.

Tatiana has put together a short on-line questionnaire.  If you can spare a few minutes to complete the questionnaire, the answers you give would be a great help for the research and would be much appreciated!  To fill in the questionnaire, click here

SAT. 24 NOVEMBER – 11am
CHUMLEIGH GARDENS CAFE 

*** PLEASE NOTE, TIME AND VENUE FOR SATURDAY’S MEETING WILL BE CONFIRMED LATER THIS WEEK – WATCH THIS SPACE! ***

It’s been a while since we last met, so come along and catch up. As always, we’ll buy you a drink.

If you can’t make this meeting there’s a another chance for a shindig at our Christmas drinks in a few weeks time. More details to come.

“343 Perspectives”, by Nikolaj Bendix Skyum Larsen, explores themes of isolation and community, as told by people living around Southampton Way and Wells Way.

The film project is being displayed at Peckham Space (in Peckham Arch outside the library and leisure centre).  Admission is free, and you can call in when Peckham Space is open:

Tuesday to Friday 11am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm
Closed Monday

“343 Perspectives” will be showing until Sunday 18th November.