A shocking BBC investigation has uncovered that nine women separately reported Christopher Harkins, one of Scotland’s most prolific romance fraudsters, to Police Scotland before his eventual arrest. These women, who met Harkins through online dating platforms like Tinder, were left feeling dismissed by the police when they tried to bring attention to his predatory actions.
A Decade of Ignored Warnings
Between 2012 and 2019, Police Scotland received numerous reports from women claiming that Harkins had committed various forms of abuse. These reports detailed disturbing allegations, including recording intimate images and videos without consent, physical abuse, and threats, in addition to stealing tens of thousands of pounds from his victims.
Despite these repeated reports, authorities failed to investigate Harkins thoroughly until after his eventual arrest in 2024. One of the victims, whom the BBC has named Lisa to protect her identity, said she felt let down when she tried to report the fraud after transferring £3,247 for a holiday booking that never materialized. Lisa expressed her frustration, stating, “The sheer number of people that came forward, I think it’s clear that there were opportunities to investigate.”
Her case highlights the failure to act on the part of the authorities, leaving many women feeling abandoned during the critical moments of their distress.
Police Scotland’s Response
Detective Chief Inspector Lyndsay Laird, who later led the investigation into Harkins, acknowledged the failures of the past. While she could not definitively explain why the cases were not investigated earlier, she expressed hope that things had changed. “With everything that we’ve put in place since then, I would hope that that experience wouldn’t be replicated now,” she said.
It was only after years of victim reports that Harkins was finally apprehended and convicted. His crimes included manipulating victims into transferring large sums of money under false pretenses, leaving a trail of financial and emotional devastation.
The Impact on Victims
For many of Harkins’ victims, the failure of the police to investigate their reports earlier has had lasting emotional consequences. One victim, who had been in a relationship with Harkins, said she had to come to terms with not only the financial loss but also the emotional trauma caused by his deceitful actions.
Other victims voiced their anger at how their reports were handled by the police, with some describing a sense of disbelief that their concerns were not taken more seriously. “It was almost as if our stories weren’t important enough,” said another victim.
A Call for Change
This case has raised important questions about how authorities handle cases of romance fraud and intimate partner abuse in the digital age. The rise of dating apps and the growing trend of online relationships have made it crucial for law enforcement to take such reports seriously and act swiftly to prevent further harm.
As a result of Harkins’ arrest, there have been calls for more comprehensive training for police officers on how to handle these sensitive cases. Experts in the field argue that better protocols need to be in place to ensure that victims are supported, their reports are taken seriously, and offenders like Harkins are brought to justice sooner.
