Hidden Heist

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Hidden Heist:

Press release: Wednesday - 5th November 2025

 

Hidden Heist: UK's Older People Have Already Lost Over £53 Million to Abuse – Rivalling the Nation's Biggest Ever Cash Robbery

 

Hourglass Charity Warns of 2.6 Million Victim-Survivors with numbers set to increase, as National Summit Convenes.



The UK’s older people are losing more money to abuse than was stolen in the largest ever cash heist, with projections showing over 1.5 million people could become victim-survivors annually by 2030, the charity Hourglass revealed today.



The Tonbridge Securitas depot robbery of 2006 – which saw armed criminals steal £53 million – has long stood as the UK’s most audacious cash theft. Yet new analysis from Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity dedicated exclusively to ending the abuse of older people, reveals that fraudsters and abusers have stolen that amount from older victims across the UK.



The sobering figures emerge as ministers, safeguarding experts and frontline practitioners prepare to convene virtually for the Safer Ageing Summit 2025 on 12th November, where they will confront what Hourglass describes as "the most under-recognised safeguarding crisis of our time."



According to Hourglass projections, by 2030, almost 4 million older people across the UK could experience abuse annually – encompassing physical, psychological, sexual, and economic exploitation and neglect. The charity warns that whilst these crimes rival organised heists in scale, they receive only a fraction of the attention, resources, or political priority.
 

"The reality is stark: abuse of older people is rising, but recognition, resourcing and political attention are still lagging behind," said Richard Robinson, CEO of Hourglass. "We can't keep treating older people as an afterthought in safeguarding policy. By 2030, almost 4 million older people could be victim-survivors every single year. That should be a national wake-up call."

 

The Safer Ageing Summit 2025 will unite key decision-makers including:

 

Alex Davies-Jones MPAlex Davies-Jones MP
Minister for Victims, Ministry of Justice

 

Kaukab Stewart MSPKaukab Stewart MSP
Minister for Equalities 

 

Dame Nicole JacobsDame Nicole Jacobs
Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales

 

Jess PhilipsJess Phillips MP
Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls

 

 

Expert panels will tackle critical issues including: Economic abuse and urgent legal reforms to powers of attorney; the intersection of housing, health, and systemic ageism; the sexual abuse of older people – what experts call "one of the last taboos in safeguarding".



The summit will feature powerful testimony from Laura Johnston-Brand and Karen Lee, founders of the Willie's Law campaign through their own lived experience, who are championing urgent reforms to prevent the financial exploitation of vulnerable older people through misused powers of attorney.



Hourglass is demanding immediate government action including: Stronger legal protections against economic abuse of older people; mandatory age-disaggregated data collection across all safeguarding services and a coordinated UK-wide strategy to end abuse in later life.



Robinson added: "We hope our Summit will not only remind people of these sobering statistics but drive urgent action to put the abuse of older people at the top of the political agenda where it belongs."
 

ENDS

 

Book your virtual conference ticket here

 

Notes to Editors

About Hourglass (Safer Ageing)
Hourglass is the only UK-wide charity focused specifically on ending the abuse, harm, exploitation and neglect of older people. Founded on the principle that abuse of older adults is a distinct safeguarding challenge requiring specialist response, the charity operates across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Key Services:

  • 24/7 Helpline (0808 808 8141): Confidential support for older victim-survivors, families, and professionals. Instant messenger, chatbot and Knowledge Bank available via wearehourglass.org

 

The Scale of the Problem:

  • Hourglass estimates suggest 1 in 5 older people experience abuse annually

  • Economic abuse alone costs older people an estimated £100 million+ annually

  • Only 1 in 24 cases are reported to authorities

  • 70% of abuse occurs in the victim's own home

  • 80% of perpetrators are family members or someone in a position of trust

 

Safer Ageing Summit 2025:

 

Spokespeople Available: Richard Robinson, CEO, and Veronica Gray, DCEO and Policy Director are available for interview. Expert commentators on specific abuse types (economic, physical, psychological, sexual and neglect) can be arranged upon request.

 

Richard Robinson

Hourglass CEO

richardrobinson@wearehourglass.org

 

Veronica Gray

Hourglass DCEO

veronicagray@wearehourglass.org

 

 

 

 

 

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