Two women have been accused of dressing in Islamic robes to hassle people for money in an area of the city with a large Muslim community.
The women, who locals believe to be Eastern European, possibly Romanian, have been spotted wearing niqabs in the Highfields area of the city over the past two weeks.
They have been approaching people asking for money, saying they are penniless and need the cash for essentials such as nappies.
Some people have told police the women said they were collecting for a charity.
A number of residents have spoken to them and are sure they are not Muslims and are dressing in the niqab – a full robe which exposes the wearers’ eyes – in order to exploit the local community.
Resident Majid Freeman, who has spoken to and photographed the women, said: “I’ve seen them a number of times in the Highfields and Green Lane Road area over the past couple of weeks.
“They have been knocking on people’s doors or just randomly stopping people in the street asking them for money.
“They are not wearing the niqab correctly and when I spoke to them it was clear they are not Muslims.
“I said ‘why are you tricking people in this way?’
“When I told them I was going to call the police one of them stuck her middle finger up at me and they walked away.
“People like to give to charity but these people are scammers and people should not give them money.”
A number of people, including businesses in Green Lane Road, have also reported the women to police.
Inspector Ben Gillard, commander of Spinney Hill Park police station, said the matter was under investigation.
He said: “We have had enough reports now about these women to suggest we have, for want of a better word, scammers in the area.
“If this is a case of unlicensed charity collecting then there are rules and regulations around what you can and can’t do.
“We would encourage people to call us if they see these women.
“If someone goes out with a dishonest motive of obtaining money by false representation then that is fraud.
“There is not shortage of opportunities to give to charity in this area.”