Jack Dromey MP, Labour’s Shadow Policing Minister, commenting on the inclusion of cybercrime statistics in the Crime Survey of England and Wales, said:
“The Home Secretary has for 5 years claimed that, despite cutting 17,000 police officers overall, she has also cut crime. However, her claims do not take into account the true scale of crime in the UK.
“Now, the Office of National Statistics are forcing the Government’s hand and making them come clean about the new wave of crime hitting the British public - rapidly growing on-line fraud and cybercrime. Labour have long said that crime is not falling, it is changing, and we are pleased that the Government are finally going to recognise this.
“Including cybercrime figures will add an extra 3 million fraud and cyber incidents to the overall level of crime in the UK – an increase of up to 40%. Instead of having your bag stolen, you are more likely to be swindled online. These internet crimes can be more costly, upsetting and difficult to investigate than ‘conventional’ crimes like robbery, as people’s bank accounts, identities and personal data are targeted.
“To make matters worse, just as online crime and fraud is soaring, so too are the demands on a depleted police force to tackle child sex exploitation, respond to rising levels of sexual and violent crime and keep Britain safe from terrorism.
“Now, more than ever, we need a police workforce fit for the 21st century. The truth about crime is finally being told and I urge Theresa May to stop slashing the police at such a crucial time.”
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