New £150m service will stop, block and catch more fraudsters, says City of London Police Authority chair

The new service is designed to make it easier and quicker for everyone to report fraud and cybercrime and significantly improve the speed and quality of information provided to law enforcement partners, boosting their chances of successful prosecutions.

Reports made to the new service, as well as those reports made to CIFAS and UK Finance, will continue to be sent to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), based within City of London Police, for analysis.

The centralised intelligence function allows for fraud and cybercrime reports from across the country to be linked, and for a better coordination of policing resources to investigate crimes and protect victims. This service will be enhanced significantly, using the latest technology and an increased workforce to manage the reports and case work incoming to the service.

Speaking to the Court of Common Council, the City of London Corporation’s top decision-making body, chair of the City of London Police Authority Board James Thomson said economic security is “critical to the competitiveness of the UK, London and the City”.

He told elected members that City of London Police, the national lead force for tackling fraud, was working with its partners in law enforcement and the private sector to combat economic and cybercrime across the country.

Setting out the statutory annual refresh of the 2022-25 City Policing Plan, Mr Thomson said City of London Police remains focused on tackling violence against women and girls, and on “being trusted by the communities it serves – by delivering policing with professionalism, integrity and compassion and putting victims at the heart of the service”.

Public trust and confidence in policing, particularly in London, he said, is under “intense scrutiny”, with City of London Police aiming to be the most inclusive police service in the country.

He said this year’s Policing Plan supports this goal “through seeking a culture of inclusivity, equity, and fairness throughout the City police and in its service delivery.”

The force remains focused on “ensuring the Square Mile remains the safest business district in the world” he said, with protective security, including counterterrorism, a top priority.”

He said construction of a new City civic hub, which will be the headquarters of City of London Police and a flagship combined court for His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, supporting 2,100 jobs, is “well underway”.