Crime Committee Urges Mayor to Restore Cyber Helpline for London Fraud Victims
A formal inquiry by the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee has revealed that Greater London accounts for a staggering 40% of all UK fraud victims, yet an estimated 87% of fraud cases reported to the police result in an immediate "no-further-action" outcome.
Against this backdrop, the cross-party Committee has issued an urgent call to the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) to immediately reinstate funding for us — The Cyber Helpline — a charity providing dedicated support to Londoners impacted by tech-enabled crime and harm.
Proven Impact, Immediate Need
The Cyber Helpline previously ran a highly successful 18-month London pilot supported by funding from MOPAC. The funding enabled us to build a dedicated support team for victims in London with nearly 100,000 Londoners accessing the helpline's online self-help guides, and more than 2,000 victims receiving one-to-one specialist support. After the MOPAC funding was cut, our charity, which operates across the UK, had to reconsider its dedicated support for Londoners.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Police and Crime Committee for recognising the vital role we play in protecting Londoners. AI, deepfakes, and automated scams are changing the face of crime, leaving victims in deep panic and crisis.”
When our funding was paused, it forced us to scale back right when Londoners needed us most. As the Committee rightly notes, providing early support lessens the emotional trauma and gives victims the confidence to stand up and report these crimes.
We want to work hand-in-hand with the Mayor and MOPAC to get this frontline support back up to full strength. Reinstating this funding isn't just about supporting a charity—it will make a profound, immediate difference to thousands of victims across the capital.