A nationwide crackdown campaign against fraud has seen 13 people arrested in Hampshire.

Officers made more than a dozen arrests in the county, issued 33 cease and desist notices and served an additional 18 cease and desist letters.

The National Crime Agency said officers also issued four account freezing orders, totalling over £71,000, with officers seizing items including electronics and counterfeit goods.

It comes after 422 people were arrested in the UK over the course of February as part of Operation Henhouse, coordinated by the national economic crime centre (NECC) and City of London Police.

Hampshire Constabulary joined every single UK police force and regional organised crime unit that took part in the operation.

They were joined by national agencies including the financial conduct authority, national crime agency and national trading standards.

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Nick Sharp, deputy director fraud at the NECC, said: “This year’s Operation Henhouse results are a testament to the determination of officers and officials across the country to work together to tackle what can be a devastating and lifechanging crime.

“The national economic crime centre continues to work closely with law enforcement partners, the private sector and international counterparts to disrupt the highest harm organised crime groups who use technology to launch frauds on an industrial scale, often from overseas.”

Minister for Fraud, Lord Hanson, added: “Fraud is a truly terrible crime which takes many forms and can affect anyone. We are determined to meet the scale of the issue head-on.

“The ongoing success of Operation Henhouse demonstrates the excellence of police and law enforcement partners, and the real-world impact of their activity to crack down on this truly pernicious crime.

“We will continue to work closely with them to highlight the importance of the ‘Stop! Think Fraud’ campaign, and to introduce a new expanded fraud strategy, as part of our plan for change.”

Nationwide, the results of Operation Henhouse represent a 91 per cent increase on last year’s cash seizure figures, and 28 per cent increase on last year’s cease and desist figures.

Fraud accounts for approximately 41 per cent of all crime reports and costs an estimated £6.8bn each year in England and Wales alone.