Rory Innes Calls for Better Cybercrime Support in London
On 11th March, our CEO, Rory Innes, stood before the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee to represent a group of people who are too often overlooked: victims of digital fraud, cybercrime and online harm.
In a session focused on how the Metropolitan Police Service’s Cyber Crime Unit is protecting Londoners from digital fraud, Rory made a direct and powerful case for why the current system is failing the public. As policing resources shift, the gap in victim support is widening, leaving thousands of Londoners to navigate the aftermath of cyberattacks and online fraud alone.
The Reality of "Dead-End Reporting" and the need for a dedicated Helpline for Londoners
For many, reporting a cybercrime feels like shouting into a void. Whether it’s identity theft or online stalking, victims are often met with "dead-end reporting" - a process where they provide information to authorities but receive little to no follow-up, support, or path to recovery.
Rory highlighted that while policing is focusing more on high-level threats and preventative measures, the human side of victim support is at risk of falling by the wayside. The Cyber Helpline is proud to fill that gap by providing both technical and emotional support for victims, but the funding for a dedicated helpline service for Londoners was cut in 2025 despite a highly successful 18 month pilot project. We are now facing an uphill battle with huge demand, both from victims who need support and from volunteers who are keen to support us. That is why we are calling on the Mayor to reinstate funding for a London-focused helpline service
Support from the Assembly
We are not the only ones calling for support. We were encouraged by the positive engagement from the Committee members. There was cross-Committee agreement that we need to provide a better service for victims and we want to extend our particular thanks to Emma Best AM, Lord Bailey AM, Susan Hall AM and Zoë Garbett AM for their insightful questioning and for recognising the urgent need for consistent victim support. This comes on the back of growing cross-party momentum in City Hall after the Assembly carried a motion calling on the Mayor to refund a dedicated helpline service for Londoners.
The Cyber Helpline’s Call to Action
We hope that the London Mayor’s office will engage directly with us to create a better outcome for victims but we will also reach out to the City of London Police and the Met to ensure that we can transition away from dead-end reporting and toward a model that provides every Londoner with the expert recovery support they deserve.
It’s time we had better support for cybercrime victims. Write to your local MP to campaign for change today.
If you feel moved to support victims of cybercrime, you can do so by donating or fundraising today.