Bogus social worker gained access to child, police warn

POLICE are warning parents to be on their guard after a bogus social worker gained access to a child at his home in Beverley. The child’s mum allowed the female caller into her home to see her 17-month-old son but became suspicious and alerted police after further visits.
Detectives at Humberside Police are now warning parents to be vigilant and seek identification from any callers.

Detective Inspector Tony Cockerill, who is leading the investigation, said: “This is a concerning report of a bogus social worker dishonestly gaining access to a child. Thankfully, the child was not harmed during this rare incident which we are treating very seriously.”

The bogus caller first visited the family’s home, in the Sigston Road area of Beverley, about two weeks ago. The caller did not have an ID badge and the parent did not ask for identification.

The 22-year-old mum told the Mail: “She said she was from social services and I instantly believed it. I let her in, she knew our names. I have only just moved to the area so no one knows us here.”

The bogus social worker told the mum the family had been reported to social services and she wanted to see the child.

The mum said: “It was stuff you think social services would do. She looked him over and said he looks like a happy little boy, he’s playful and everything like that. She turned round and said, ‘Now I have seen him, you have been crossed off the list,’ and I said, ‘OK’. It sounded a bit funny.”

The woman, who was about 30 years old, returned the following week.

The mum said: “She said she had to do surprise visits and was not allowed to tell me when she was coming. She did more or less the same.”

This time, a check with social services revealed the caller was bogus. The police were alerted and given a description.

The mum said: “On Monday, the woman came again. As I reached for the phone, she ran to a car, which looked like an old white BMW.

“The number plate was covered up with a black cloth. I rang the police immediately.”

Police have now issued a description of the woman they want to talk to in connection with the visits. She is white, about 5ft 7ins tall, aged about 30 and has long, straight brown hair.

The mum told police the man in the driving seat of the white car was black. Police are appealing for anyone with information which may assist with the investigation to come forward.

Det Insp Cockerill said: “I stress that events of this nature are very unusual, however parents can and should exercise vigilance and seek identification from anyone calling at their home – all social workers and health visitors carry identification and will not be offended on any occasion to be asked to produce the relevant documentation.”

A spokesman at East Riding Council said: “All the council’s staff have official ID badges. Parents and carers are advised to check the ID of anyone calling at their home and asking to see their child.

“No genuine member of staff will be offended at being asked for proof of their identity. Anyone with any doubts about the identity of someone calling at their home in an unannounced visit should refuse to let them in, and can ring 01482 395500 to report concerns about the welfare of a child.”

Woman’s description

THE bogus caller is described as being a white woman, about 5ft 7ins tall, aged about 30, with long, straight brown hair. She is reported to have gone to the family’s home, in the Sigston Road area of Beverley, at about 5pm on Monday.

A black man was in the driving seat of a white car, which was possibly an old-style BMW.

Police are appealing for anyone with information which may assist with the investigation to come forward. Humberside Police can be called about the incident on 101, quoting log number 516 of Monday, October 28, 2013.