Surrey Police arrest three over clothing collections

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of carrying out illegal clothing collections in Surrey.

Tandridge council alerted police after being contacted by residents concerned about collections in Godstone.

According to the local authority, the suspects claimed to work on behalf of Save Lives in Cambodia, and an African charity called Two Sisters.

But the three were found not to have permits issued by the council to carry out the house-to-house collections.

Permit required

Insp Angie Austin, from Surrey Police, said: "We received information from Tandridge District Council about rogue charity workers operating in the Godstone area.

"As a direct result of this, my officers were able to arrest three suspects on suspicion of fraud."

Councillor Tony Elias, community services spokesman, said: "Each year, charities lose millions of pounds through people giving money or goods to organisations they think are charities, but which may be commercial companies collecting for profit."

By law, charity collectors must either have a council permit authorising the collection, or they must hold a Home Office exemption but still have agreed collection dates with the council.