A major review of policing across England and Wales has called for a “radical” rethink to enable forces to cope with the huge rise in cybercrime.
The first strategic review of policing in England and Wales, Public Safety and Security in the 21st Century, found that cybercrime and fraud have “increased rapidly” in recent years. It constituted 44 percent of all offences committed in England and Wales last year.
“While our current approach to policing might have been suitable for a time when the dominant crimes were car crime and burglary, today more people are affected by internet crime,” said Sir Michael Barber, chair of the strategic review of policing in England and Wales.
“The police service in England and Wales is not currently equipped to meet the scale, nature and complexity of the challenges it faces…This report shows that the challenge of keeping the public safe has been transformed over the last twenty years, and that the environment will continue to change dramatically in the next twenty.”
A report last month by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary, Sir Thomas Winsor, also described online fraud and other forms of cybercrime as “among the greatest crime threats to the public.”
The new study shows that online child sexual abuse is one area that has seen a sharp rise, claim initial findings, with 8.3 million images being added to the UK Child Abuse Image Database between 2015 and 2019.
The study says these increases have come while all other forms of crime have collectively dropped by 70 percent since 1995.
Violent crime has dropped 72 percent in that time, the review said, while burglary and vehicle theft have shrunk 74 percent and 79 percent, respectively.
Investigations of more complex crimes often face “up to six months’ wait for examinations of digital evidence” – a problem that is compounded by a shortfall of 5,000 detectives across the country.
The report also notes that policing will need to invest in the digital tools required to operate effectively in this new environment. “The speed of innovation among groups committing cybercrime only increases this need,” it said.
The second stage of the review, which will continue into next year, will culminate in the publication of a report that outlines the reform measures needed.
