The City of London Police has launched a new national service aimed at changing how victims and businesses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland report cyber crime and fraud — and how law enforcement and industry respond.
The launch comes as cyber crime and fraud remain the most common crime type in the UK, accounting for around 50% of all offences and costing the economy billions of pounds each year. With cyber-enabled crime and fraud continuing to grow in both scale and sophistication, the new service is positioned as a single national “front door” intended to make reporting clearer for victims, while improving the intelligence picture for policing and partners.
According to the City of London Police, Report Fraud represents a major evolution of national capability by combining reporting, triage and intelligence for cyber crime and fraud on one platform for the first time. The force said this will support policing’s 4Ps response — pursue, protect, prevent and prepare — at a national level, with intelligence assessed and disseminated across forces, serious and complex cases identified for specialist investigation, and victims directed into a consistent national standard of care and support.
The service is also designed to reflect the City of London Police’s proximity to the UK’s financial centre, which it says enables closer collaboration with industry, regulators and international partners. The force highlighted plans for faster disruption of criminal networks and a stronger collective defence of the UK’s economic security, underpinned by specialist capabilities and training delivered through its Economic and Cyber Crime Academy.
City of London Police commissioner Pete O’Doherty said the new platform is intended to address long-standing uncertainty among victims about where to turn and what happens after they report. City of London Police commissioner Pete O’Doherty said, “Cyber crime and fraud are the crimes most likely to affect people in this country, yet too often victims feel unsure where to turn or what will happen if they make a report. These crimes cause more than financial loss and often have devastating impacts on those targeted. We see the true cost of cyber crime and fraud when taking reports from those affected.
“Report Fraud is a landmark step forward. The service puts victims first, gives them a clear national front door to policing, and strengthens our ability, and that of every police force, to identify, disrupt and pursue the criminals behind these offences. This is not just a new service; it is a major upgrade to the UK’s defences against economic crime.”
The government has framed the service as part of a wider effort to clamp down on scams and strengthen victim support. Fraud minister Lord Hanson said, “Report Fraud is a critical new tool in our fight against the scammers. It will deliver better support for victims while giving law enforcement the tools to investigate fraudsters’ operations. My thanks go to the City of London Police and all partners for their work to bring this crucial service to life.
“Every fraud report matters – it is the first line of defence for yourself and others. Fraud can target anyone at any time, so we will continue to step up efforts to ensure the UK remains the hardest place for scammers to operate.”
Chair of the City of London Police Authority Board Tijs Broeke described the launch as a shift in national capability. Chair of the City of London Police Authority Board Tijs Broeke said, “Report Fraud marks a turning point in the national fight against fraud and cyber crime – making it easier for victims to come forward, strengthening intelligence, and disrupting criminals at scale.
“The City of London Police is uniquely placed to deliver it, bringing unmatched expertise in fraud reporting, investigation, and victim support.
“As the National Lead Force for fraud, they are protecting the public, safeguarding businesses and the national economy, and building the intelligence needed to prevent fraud before it happens.”
City of London Police service delivery director Chris Bell said the programme has been developed over years with input from victims, frontline officers, industry and government partners. City of London Police service delivery director Chris Bell said, “This service has been years in the making, shaped by victims, frontline officers, industry and government partners. It reduces the burden on people when they report, provides clearer advice and reassurance, and generates richer intelligence that can be acted on quickly to stop cyber crime and fraud in their tracks.”
Funding for the development and launch has been backed by the City of London Corporation, which has provided a £13.2m contribution, alongside a further £2.5m per year towards ongoing running costs — signalling a long-term commitment to tackling fraud, supporting victims and strengthening the UK’s economic security.
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