Page 60 • The HERALD • 19th February 2026 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SPECIALISTS v ASK A PROFESSIONAL Report Fraud – Every Report Counts In January the City of London Police, the national lead force for fraud, announced the full public launch of Report Fraud - which has now o cially replaced Action Fraud. Report Fraud is a new national service designed to transform how victims and businesses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland report cybercrime and fraud, and how law enforcement and industry respond. Cybercrime and fraud are now the most common crime in the UK, accounting for around 50% of all o ences and costing the economy billions of pounds each year. Cyber-enabled crime and fraud continues to grow in both scale and sophistication, targeting individuals, small businesses and major organisations alike. Report Fraud has been created to meet this challenge head-on, providing a single, modern national gateway for reporting and intelligence that will strengthen the collective response of policing, government and the private sector. Report Fraud provides, for the rst time, a single, modern national reporting, triage and intelligence platform for both cybercrime and fraud, enabling the City of London Police to lead policing’s 4Ps response – pursue, protect, prevent and prepare - at a national level. rough the new service, intelligence will be assessed and disseminated across forces, serious and complex cases will be identi ed for specialist investigation, and victims will be directed into a consistent national standard of care and support. e service also re ects the City of London Police’s position at the heart of the UK’s nancial centre, with unparalleled access to industry, regulators and international partners. is proximity enables realtime collaboration, faster disruption of criminal networks, and a stronger collective defence of the UK’s economic security, supported by specialist capabilities and training delivered through the force’s Economic and Cyber Crime Academy. More than just technology, Report Fraud is the result of one of the largest transformation programmes ever undertaken by the City of London Police. Built from the ground up around the victim journey, it brings together the reporting of both cybercrime and fraud in one place for the rst time, making it quicker, clearer and more supportive for people and businesses to come forward - and ensuring that every report counts, helping to protect others. Pete O’Doherty, Commissioner of the City of London Police and the Senior Responsible O cer for delivering Report Fraud, said: “Cybercrime 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 cybercrime 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.” Lord Hanson, Fraud Minister 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.” e City of London Corporation has provided signi cant nancial support to the development and launch of Report Fraud, including a £13.2 million contribution. In addition, the organisation will contribute £2.5 million per year towards the ongoing running costs of the service, underlining its long-term commitment to tackling fraud, supporting victims, and strengthening the UK’s economic security. To report a fraud, nd out more about how to protect yourself from fraud, or get help and support if you have been a ected by fraud visit: https://www. reportfraud.police.uk If you are a business, charity or organisation and you nd yourself under a cyber attack call: 0300 123 2040 immediately.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNzI=