Police probe international CSCS card fraud ring

Police are investigating an international fraud ring after a package from India containing hundreds of counterfeit CSCS cards was intercepted by courier company DHL last week.

The package, which entered the UK through Heathrow airport, was destined for a construction company in Bedfordshire until its contents were discovered during a security check at DHL’s Hemel Hempstead branch. A DHL spokesperson confirmed that the parcel had been opened in line with “standard security checks” of suspicious parcels.

The seizure was referred to CSCS’ management, who immediately passed the case on to the police.

Peter Roberts, CSCS’ product manager, said that he had passed the case on to police in Norfolk, where the scheme is based. He said: “It is up to Norfolk police to liaise with the fraud unit in Bedfordshire but, given the events happening in Luton linked to the London bombs, progress has been slow.”

Roberts added that the case had no connection to the London bombings.

It is understood that, in the past two weeks, two major contractors have been investigating instances of counterfeit CSCS cards being used on sites.

A source close to CSCS said that the scheme could not be sure of how many bogus cards were in use.

Further effort may be needed to ensure the card itself is more secure

Source close to CSCS

The source said: “This will have big implications for CSCS. It may mean that further effort will be needed to ensure the card itself is more secure and less prone to counterfeit.”

This week the management of CSCS published the full details of its new business strategy, as revealed in Building last week

Proposals include:

• B&CE, a not-for-profit industry pension stakeholder scheme, is to provide the company secretariat for the scheme, as well as offices and administration.
• Current administrator

CITB–ConstructionSkills is to issue the cards and keep records of who has them, as requested by the scheme’s directors under a revised management structure.

• A new chief executive and directors, to include representatives from employers, unions, the Health and Safety Executive, client organisations and professional bodies such as the Construction Industry Council.

One crucial aspect of the strategy that has not been concluded is the funding arrangement with the CITB. It is understood that talks with the board’s officials are continuing.

The business plan also contains a mission statement. Aims include:

• To raise standards in individual competence of health and safety across the construction industry
• To be the only universally accepted card used to accredit workers
• To actively engage with all stakeholders.