Inspector Paul Tinkler, local policing inspector for Barry

YOU may have read about an emerging scam where fraudsters are contacting victims on the telephone claiming to be police officers and attempt to get them to withdraw cash from their bank account and hand over money to a courier.

Unfortunately, in the past month we have seen an increase in types of scam calls and in particular fraudsters purporting to be from the HMRC.

These fraudsters claiming to be from HMRC are threatening the victim with arrest unless they pay money supposedly owed. Voicemail messages are also being left, with a contact number.

In some incidents the scammers are also asking for people to buy ITunes and other gift cards.

Please let me reassure you that the police, HMRC and banks will never ask you to withdraw money or provide details of your account.

If you receive a call of this nature then please hang up, record the number that the fraudster has contacted you on using the 1471 facility and report it to us on 101. The message is that simple.

Please try not to worry and please do not hand over any money, but please report it as soon as you are able to.

Please help us to share the message by telling your friends and family.

Officers last week seized a quantity of hunting knives from a property in the town.

These type of knives have no place in our communities and my staff will continue to challenge such criminality and bring offenders to justice.

A 21-year-old man was this week jailed for assaulting a man using a knife. While incidents involving knives are low in Barry, they can of course have tragic consequences.

As well as causing fear among the public, it is a fact that those carrying a knife are more likely to be injured by a knife themselves.

I would urge anyone with information about individuals carrying knives to report it to us.

It’s sad to say that this will be my last column as I will be retiring from the force at the end of this month. Having grown up in Barry and having very close ties to this area, it holds many positive memories for me and it has been a real privilege to serve this community and work with so many dedicated colleagues and partners as the local policing inspector during the last 18 months.