CHIPPENHAM MP Michelle Donelan MP has visited Lloyds Bank in Melksham to discuss fraud prevention.

She discussed the bank’s ongoing work to combat financial fraud and to protect constituents from financial scams.

Miss Donelan visited the branch in High Street, Melksham, on Friday, April 5.

Afterwards, she said: “The bank is working with other banks, financial service providers and law enforcement agencies to identify fraudsters and prevent fraud occurring.

“One important way in which they are tackling this is through the Banking Protocol which is a new partnership between banks, police and trading standards.

“It provides immediate support (via 999) where branch colleagues identify customers who are in the process of being defrauded.

“The bank is proud of their face to face interaction and knowledge of their customers enabling them to quickly identify out of the ordinary spending patterns.”

During 2017, the protocol saved £11.5 million across participating banks and resulted in 116 arrests.