A CAMPAIGN is being launched to stop thousands of elderly people suffering at the hands of bogus officials.

The national crusade will unite utility companies, the Government, the police and councils in the battle against distraction crime.

Although police statistics show 12,000 men and women were targeted last year, Home Office figures suggest there could be as many as 100,000 victims every year.

Government figures also show the culprits are often getting away with their crimes.

Greater Manchester Police received reports of 1,462 bogus officials between April 2000 and March this year, the second highest total in the country. But only 34 offenders were caught.

Elderly people in Bolton are often targeted with almost 200 incidents being reported in the past 12 months. There have been several bogus official crimes in recent weeks:

Agnes Wildman, aged 77, had her handbag stolen from her home in Rose Avenue, Farnworth, when two criminals knocked on her window pretending to be workmen.

A man struck in Knowsley Road, Sharples, stealing an 80-year-old's purse after claiming he was from the "water board" and he had to turn her water off.

A lout stole more than £100 from a 74-year-old, who lives in Whitchurch Gardens, Halliwell, after pretending to be a friend.

The National Senior Safety Campaign, launched by a partnership between British Gas and Help the Aged, will be launched tomorrow with a conference at Regents Park College in London.

This will be followed by a series of workshops across the country which will aim to teach elderly people how to prevent their becoming victims of crime.

Adam Blight, a spokesman for Help the Aged, said: "We have identified distraction crime as being one of the biggest problems facing older people in the country today.

"This whole campaign will be geared towards trying to stop more men and women becoming victims."

Help the Aged has already produced a leaflet, called Living Alone Safely (LAS), which is available from all of the charity's shops.

For a copy of the publication send a SAE to Information Department (LAS), Help the Aged, 207-221 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9UZ.