Mother paying construction work in advance

Hello

Looking for some sage advice.

My mother paid for some construction work to be done in her house early January 2025.

It’s a porch and the services were paid for in advance in good faith…. I know I know… not good.

Work was to be completed in March, continued delays and excuses since then with porch half finished. She has full audit of communications over emails, not sure about a contract but will ask her today.

She wants to go to the police today and engage citizen’s advice.

Anybody have any experience with this kind of situation and what would be best course of action.

Much appreciated