The Economic Security and Cyber Crime Committee met on Thursday 1 October 2026 to discuss various aspects of economic security and cyber crime. Key topics included updates on policing performance, the progress of the Joint Asset Recovery Database (JARD), and ongoing innovation and growth initiatives related to economic security and cyber crime.

Policing Plan Performance Report Q1 2026/27

The committee received an update on the Policing Plan Performance for the first quarter of 2026/27, which assesses national policing performance against the objectives set out in the National Policing Strategy for Fraud, Economic and Cyber Crime 2023-28. This strategy aims to improve the UK policing response to fraud, economic, and cyber crime through three key objectives: improving outcomes for victims, proactively pursuing offenders, and protecting people and businesses from threats.

Under the Public Trust and Confidence objective, a key measure is to reduce the gap between reported fraud and the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) figures. While the CSEW estimates that 89% of crime is unreported, the target is to reduce this to 85% over a three-year period. In Q1 2026/27, the Report Fraud system, which went live in December 2025, accepted an estimated 96,967 crimes (excluding Cifas data). This figure represents 20% below the quarterly benchmark for the first year, indicating a need for increased reporting to meet the target. The report noted that reporting has increased since the public launch of Report Fraud, with national awareness campaigns contributing to higher volumes and engagement.

Regarding Reactive Pursue, both City of London Police (CoLP) and national figures showed an increase in positive outcomes. CoLP reported 150 positive outcomes in Q1, a substantial increase from previous periods, achieving an outcome rate of 66.4%, which is 45.7% above the benchmark. Nationally, legacy outcomes reported an outcome rate of 17.2%, exceeding the benchmark by 6%. However, outcomes reported through the NCAS system were below the benchmark at 11.5%. The report highlighted that a lag exists in data reporting due to the transition from older systems to NCAS.

The Local performance in managing risk and serving the public objective, which focuses on the proportion of forces achieving Outstanding, Good, or Adequate ratings from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) PEEL assessments, revealed that several forces require improvement in investigating crime and managing fraud. The report indicated a need for effective training for staff outside specialist units and better victim care for fraud cases.

Under Crime Reduction, a 10% reduction in average loss for specific fraud types (Abuse of Position, Courier Fraud, Romance Fraud, and Investment Fraud) is targeted. However, due to the early stages of the Report Fraud system and data limitations, reliable loss figures were not available for Q1. Reports submitted to Report Fraud decreased by 8% compared to the previous quarter.

The Proactive Pursue objective aims for a 10% increase in the national value receipted from asset recovery proceedings. For the previous 12 months, asset seizures totalled £87,862,183, a slight decrease of 0.41% compared to the prior year. Civil Recovery Orders also saw a significant decrease of 27% in Q1, falling 30% below the benchmark target. The report mentioned that the new Asset Recovery and Immobilisation Technology (ARIT) system is due to launch in September 2027 and will replace the Joint Asset Recovery Database (JARD).

The Stop + Block Cyber/Fraud Disruption objective aims for a 1000% increase in instances where data sharing leads to offenders being stopped or blocked. In Q1, Prevention Services reported 7,813 submitted disruptions with 4,481 actual disruptions, a disruption rate of 57%. The report noted limitations with the NCAS system for accurately measuring performance in this area.

Finally, the Cyber/Fraud Protect objective targets a 20% increase in Cyber Resilience Centre (CRC) businesses in membership and a 500% increase in national brand partnership reach. In Q1, CRC membership increased by 35%, exceeding the target. The network currently has 32,624 members, with ongoing data cleansing expected to refine this figure.

Innovation & Growth - Update on Economic Security and Cyber Crime Related Activities

The committee received an update on activities undertaken by the Innovation & Growth (IG) Directorate in relation to economic security and cyber crime. IG's core objective is to strengthen the UK's competitiveness as a global hub for financial and professional services (FPS), promoting the UK's strengths and leadership in FPS technology and innovation. The City of London Police (CoLP), as the national lead force for fraud and NPCC lead for cyber, plays a crucial role in building a secure ecosystem, aligning closely with IG's work.

IG has been supporting CoLP through the police reform process, embedding itself in key governance and delivery forums and providing senior leaders with briefing materials and coordination for meetings with business stakeholders. IG has also co-led on business engagement and communications to encourage support from businesses, trade associations, and member organisations for CoLP.

In the area of Regulatory Technology (RegTech), the RegTech Strategy Group, launched by the City of London Corporation (CoLC) and Innovate Finance, is moving into a delivery phase focused on data access, digital verification, and investment and skills. Working groups will develop practical recommendations through workshops, with a consolidated report planned for December.

Regarding Digital Verification, the Securing Growth: the Digital Verification Opportunity report highlighted the need for a Digital Verification Orchestrator (DVO) to enable secure and efficient sharing of information. The Digital Verification Orchestrator Initiative, established in February 2026, has developed a DVO Blueprint, outlining its purpose, governance, and practical recommendations for implementation. A pilot led by UK Finance is underway, involving major financial institutions. The DVO is described as a voluntary, consent-based trust layer, not a national identity card, aiming to unlock significant benefits and support the City Corporation's Vision for Economic Growth.

Deputy Commissioner's Update

The committee received an update on notable activity from the City of London Police (CoLP) in the last quarter. Detective Chief Superintendent Joe Anthony has joined CoLP as Head of the NPCC Cyber Crime portfolio. The Report Fraud Annual Assessment was launched, supported by a roundtable event with key stakeholders and media. CoLP representatives also attended various conferences, fostering new relationships and increasing appetite for data sharing. The upcoming Home Office Cyber Strategy is expected to influence future funding and investment priorities. CoLP also launched a new national training programme, Fraud and Cyber Essentials, to enhance frontline officers' response to cyber crime and fraud.

Operational highlights included the continued success of Operation Recall, with alerts reaching banks within minutes. A Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU) investigation led to a significant confiscation order of £1.85 million. The Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) secured a conviction for fraudulent pet insurance claims, and a joint CoLP and National Crime Agency investigation resulted in prison sentences for a cyber attack on Transport for London (TfL). The first UK seizure of SMS blaster fraud equipment also led to a prison sentence. Media coverage followed arrests related to a Domestic Corruption Unit (DCU) investigation into the Police Federation of England and Wales, and the sentencing of an individual for running an illegal IPTV service. The Domestic Corruption Unit is transitioning from a pilot phase to an established operational capability, with several investigations underway.

Summary of Report Fraud Public Complaints Data - Q1 2026/27

The committee reviewed a report summarising public complaints data for Report Fraud in Q1 2026/27. A total of 168 complaint cases were logged, a decrease of 23 from the previous quarter. The most common allegation category remained Police action following contact, largely driven by unmet expectations regarding Report Fraud investigations. A backlog of complaints has developed due to limited dedicated resources for non-Schedule 3 complaints, although performance in addressing this backlog has improved. The Professional Standards Department (PSD) and Report Fraud are collaborating to review the resource model for complaint handling. The report also noted an increase in the use of AI in composing complaints, potentially leading to more Schedule 3 complaints requiring investigation.

Questions on Matters Relating to the Work of the Committee

No questions were raised by members regarding the work of the committee.

Any Other Business That the Chairman Considers Urgent

The Chairman stated that no urgent other business was identified.

Exclusion of the Public

Members agreed to exclude the public from the meeting for subsequent agenda items.