Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Accepted
Paragraph: 88
Police training inadequately addresses technology-exploiting fraud crimes and evolving offending methods.
Conclusion
Fraud crimes can be easy to spot in many cases if a police officer has adequate awareness of technological developments, but can be missed in the absence of such knowledge. The training of police remains focused on more traditional crime types whereas there is clearly a need for it to keep pace with the changing nature of offending.
Government Response Summary
The government supports the College of Policing's (CoP) efforts to ensure police professionals have access to appropriate training for fraud, detailing existing training programmes and ongoing reviews with the City of London Police.
Paragraph Reference:
88
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government is supportive of College of Policing’s (CoP) desire to ensure police professionals have access to high standards of learning and professional development, to equip those who might deal with fraud with the right skills and knowledge. CoP are working with the national policing lead City of London Police to review policing arrangements for fraud. Currently, there are four key strands of fraud training: for new entrants to the service in the recruits’ curriculum; general investigation training through the professionalising investigation programme; specific learning products available through the City of London Police Economic and Cyber Crime Academy; and content from the College of Policing’s Digital Intelligence and Investigation suite. The curriculum for all new starters includes curricula on digital investigations, understanding the digital crime scene and recovery of digital material. This is supported by content which helps new and serving officers, police staff and volunteers to acquire the digital skills they need to undertake investigations effectively. The Government acknowledges that there is more to be done to ensure Law Enforcement have the training they need to effectively combat fraud. We continue to support CoP, as they bring together forces and experts to share best practice and develop collaborative plans for policing to improve their work to detect, prevent and disrupt fraud.