City policing head: ‘Force dedicated to safeguarding the Square Mile and the nation’
The chair of the City of London Police Authority Board says City of London Police has remained “steadfast in its commitment to protecting communities” over the past year.
Presenting the force’s annual report to elected Members of the Court of Common Council – the City Corporation’s top decision-making body – Tijs Broeke said on Thursday (July 25): “The police authority has been focused on ensuring two things: one, that the City police is supported and challenged to keep the Square Mile the safest business district in the world; and two, that our nation is protected from the threats of fraud, wider economic crime and cybercrime.”
Mr Broeke added: “In an era marked by challenges to public trust in policing, City of London Police over the past year has remined steadfast in its commitment to protecting our City communities and more widely the UK’s economic resilience.”
The former police special constable said the force’s priorities included security and counter-terrorism and preventing violence against women and girls.
Mr Broeke also highlighted the force’s recent launch of its equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, saying: “A cornerstone of our shared ambition is for the City of London Police to become one – if not the most inclusive police service in the country.”
He said that the force, in its national lead role, has “continued to lead the policing response to fraud, economic and cybercrime”.
“We all know that economic security is the bedrock of the UK’s competitiveness, and as such have strengthened our efforts to collaborate closely with law enforcement and private sector partners to combat these challenges,” said Mr Broeke.
He added that work has continued over the past year to establish a new national reporting service to replace Action Fraud and highlighted the City Corporation’s investment into the construction of a police headquarters and courts complex in the Square Mile.
Mr Broeke said: “We will not take our foot off the brakes, and I am looking forward to the significant steps we will collectively take to protect our City and our nation.”
Mr Broeke was appointed as chair of the City of London Police Authority Board earlier this year. His role is to make sure the City of London Police runs an effective and efficient service by holding the Commissioner to account, ensuring value for money in the way the police service is run, and setting policing priorities, considering the views of the community.
The new £150 million service to replace Action Fraud aims to make it easier for everyone to report fraud and cybercrime, taking the burden out of reporting and speeding up the time it takes to report.
It will also let victims know what has happened with their report, including when reporting has aided others to be protected.
The new service will also “significantly improve the speed and quality of information” provided to law enforcement partners, boosting their chances of successful prosecutions.
Real-time information will be provided to institutions and organisations to help block and disrupt crime, enabling them to take down fraudulent websites, activities and bank accounts which are known to be enabling criminal activity.