Under-funded by police resources and under-reported by victims, but overwhelming for many who fall prey to it, fraud provides the main focus of this evening’s City of London Police Authority Board Dinner.

The Chair of the Board, James Thomson, is expected to call upon the Government to increase police resources for tackling cyber-enabled crime – which accounts for 80% of fraud – and to tell the audience, which includes the event’s keynote speaker, Security Minister, Damian Hinds MP, that local forces should prioritise investigating fraud.

Stressing the impact of fraud, James Thomson will make the point that “fraud is now the single biggest crime type, making up one-third of all crimes and it is not, as perceived by some, a victimless crime.

“Not only does fraud affect millions of UK citizens each year, some of whom are very vulnerable, it weakens our economy and threatens our international reputation as a safe place in which to do business.”

Turning, in particular, to the forthcoming Online Safety Bill, James Thomson will urge Government policy makers to broaden the Bill’s scope to include fraud as one of the designated ‘priority harms’, but also the need to include paid-for advertising, which is currently supporting the spread of investment scams.

“It is vital for online platforms, such as social media companies, to take a legal responsibility to identify, remove, and prevent false and fraudulent activity on their websites. Regrettably, this is something they have failed to do effectively to date, so introducing the right regulatory framework is now essential.”

The City of London Police Authority Board Dinner is being held on the national Emergency Services Day, which celebrates the exceptional contribution of all those who work to protect the life and safety of people across the UK and this year, to remember those who have lost their lives while carrying out their duties.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For media enquiries:

Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer (Public Services), City of London Corporation

T: 07795 333060 / E: andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk

About the City of London Corporation:

Guild The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk 

About the City of London Police Authority Board:

Managed by the City of London Corporation, the City of London Police Authority Board’s role is to make sure that the City of London Police runs an effective and efficient service by holding the Commissioner to account; to ensure value for money in the way the police is run, and to set policing priorities taking into account the views of the community. [The Court of Common Council is the Police Authority for the Square Mile as set out in the City of London Police Act 1839. Under Section 56 of the Act, the Common Council delegated to the Police Authority Board all of its police authority functions (with the exception of the appointment of the Commissioner)].

About the City of London Police:

The City of London Police is responsible for policing the City's business district, the 'Square Mile' in the historical centre of London. In addition, it holds national responsibility for Economic Crime and under this remit, it is host to Action Fraud (the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service); the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau; the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department; and the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit. The City of London continues to be one of the safest urban areas in the country. www.cityoflondon.police.uk