Fraud and Economic Crime

Phil Brickell, the Labour MP for Bolton West, asked the Minister for Security, Dan Jarvis, what steps the Department is taking to tackle fraud and economic crime. Brickell noted that fraud accounts for 39% of all crime in England and Wales, and that many of these offences are carried out by serious organised crime gangs. He expressed concern that a recent report found the National Crime Agency (NCA), which is tasked with protecting his constituents from foreign origin fraud and serious organised crime, was "on its knees" after 14 years of Conservative government, spending millions on consultants and failing to retain investigators. In response, Jarvis paid tribute to the operational leadership and focus of the NCA in tackling economic crime. He explained that the Government is working to address retention challenges for fraud investigators, and that the national fraud squad, run by the NCA's national economic crime centre and the City of London police, has been boosted with 400 new officers to tackle the highest-harm international offenders. Mark Pritchard, the Conservative MP for The Wrekin, then intervened, noting that online harm goes beyond fraud and can impact people's lives through suicide sites and unregulated content. He highlighted that the European Commission is investigating Facebook and Instagram, and that the United States is introducing the Kids Online Safety Act. Pritchard questioned why it is left to parents in the UK to take their own litigation against these big tech companies, and asked if it is not time the Government did more. Jarvis acknowledged that online harm is a key priority for the Department, as 70% of fraud has an international element, particularly online. He stated that approximately one in 18 adults were victims of fraud in the year ending March 2024, and that the Government, including the Treasury and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, is working closely with the noble Lord Hanson to address this issue.