National Lead Force launches strategy for fraud, economic and cyber crime

The City of London Police officially launched its five-year National Policing Strategy for Fraud, Economic and Cyber Crime today, building on fraud and cybercrime being included in the strategic policing requirement earlier this year.

The new strategy has been developed to guide and support local, regional and national policing to deliver a better service for victims and sets out the actions under three objectives to improve outcomes for victims, proactively pursue offenders and protect people and businesses from threat.

T/Assistant Commissioner Nik Adams who is responsible for the national coordination of economic and cybercrime, today welcomed over 400 operational law enforcement professionals and industry representatives, at the Serious and Organised Crime Exchange (SOCEX) conference to share the plan and discuss how the UK tackles fraud and cybercrime.

T/Assistant Commissioner Nik Adams said:

“Fraud, economic and cyber crime pose a significant threat to the UK and are increasing in volume and complexity

“This is the first time we have produced a national five year strategy for policing, to support the delivery of objectives against the three threat areas of fraud, economic and cyber crime. We are doing so in recognition of the need for these three threat areas to align and work in unison to respond more effectively and efficiently to the threats.”

The three objectives outlined in the plan are:

• Improving outcomes for victims
  Central to this is the delivery of a new reporting and analysis service for fraud and cyber victims, to replace Action Fraud. The new service will vastly improve the victim reporting journey and outcome for every fraud and cyber crime through better instant advice to victims; industrialised automated alerts going into industry to stop, block and recover funds; and better quality intelligence and investigation packages for action at force level.
• Proactively pursuing offenders
  Law enforcement has recognised that a shift to proactive, intelligence led investigations and disruptions is necessary to effectively target those enabling and responsible for the high levels of harm. New teams and processes are being built to enable a better system wide proactive approach, we are working with the NCA to build relationships with over seas law enforcement in jurisdictions of risk.
  
  
• Protecting people and businesses from the threat
  We are launching new PROTECT resources and strengthened national co-ordination, which will align with the existing Cyber Protect Teams, and deliver consistent nationally agreed messaging to local audiences, providing the UK with the tools and knowledge to protect themselves against the threats.

The strategy can be viewed here.

Notes to editors:

The City of London Police welcomed the inclusion of fraud in Strategic Policing Requirement in February this year.

The Serious and Organised Crime Exchange (SOCEX) conference is taking place from the 22 to the 24 November in Stratford-upon-Avon.