Asked by: Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat - Sutton and Cheam)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with Action Fraud on (a) proposals for crypto asset rules and (b) support for investigations into scams.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
We are replacing the current Action Fraud service with a new, improved service. The new service will provide better support services and reporting tools for victims, provide greater intelligence to law enforcement to support investigations, and allow for greater prevention and disruption at scale.
A phased introduction of the new service is now underway and will continue throughout 2025. Changes have already been made to improve the analysis of reports, the quality of intelligence drawn from them, and how quickly this is sent to police forces for investigation.
The new service has been designed to recognise crypto currency as both an enabler of frauds, such as investment fraud, and an enabler to the cashing out mechanism to realise the benefits of the criminal activity. This will ensure accurate reporting and deliver a greater understanding of the threat posed by crypto currency and how to tackle it more effectively.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54074 on Fraud: Lancashire, whether her Department has assessed the effectiveness of the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit in reducing repeat victimisation in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
A constituency level breakdown is unavailable. However, 5,991 fraud incidents, of all types, were reported to Action Fraud in Lancashire in the year ending May 2025, totalling £30m in reported losses. 67% of these were cyber-enabled, meaning there were approximately 4,000 frauds reported in Lancashire with an online component in the year ending May 2025 (this includes both individuals and businesses).
Lancashire Constabulary receive support from the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit (NECVCU) at a level 1 and 2 service (Level 1: appropriate support to less complex cases where there is no indication of vulnerability, Level 2: more complex and difficult cases, where an indication of vulnerability has been identified). Since the inception of the NECVCU service in 2018, 13,169 victims of fraud and cyber crime from Lancashire have been through the service across levels 1 and 2.
All victims who report to Action Fraud, including those in Lancashire, will receive a response and advice on how to protect themselves from fraud. If a victim’s case is being investigated, they receive support from the investigating force. If the case is not disseminated for investigation, it will be triaged for vulnerability and referred to the NECVCU. Cases with the highest level of vulnerability and those outside of the scope of the NECVCU (e.g. under 18s and businesses) will be sent to local police forces for safeguarding advice.
Funding for the NECVCU services is allocated at a national level and is not broken down by number of victims per force. Home Office investment in the NECVCU for the last five financial years (FY) is set out below.
The table sets out actual spend in financial years 2021/22-2024/25, and the indicative budget allocation for financial year 2025/26. All figures are provided to 1 decimal place:
FY 2021/22 Actual Spend | FY 2022/23 Actual Spend | FY 2023/24 Actual Spend | FY 2024/25 Actual Spend | FY 2025/26 Indicative Budget | 5-year total |
£2.2m | £2.2m | £3.2m | £3.3m | £4.1m | £15.0m |
The NECVCU endeavours to make victims feel safer and more confident, whilst assisting them to recover from the crime and reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation. We do not hold data on force or constituency level revictimisation rates, but less than 1% of all the victims who engaged with the NECVCU at either level 1 or level 2 returned to the service.
We do not hold data on response times by forces, however 74% of level 2 victims are contacted by the NECVCU within 12 days of their initial report. However, there have been instances where the NECVCU have responded within 72 hours for those victims who present as extremely vulnerable.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of online fraud and scams were reported in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire in the last 12 months.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
A constituency level breakdown is unavailable. However, 5,991 fraud incidents, of all types, were reported to Action Fraud in Lancashire in the year ending May 2025, totalling £30m in reported losses. 67% of these were cyber-enabled, meaning there were approximately 4,000 frauds reported in Lancashire with an online component in the year ending May 2025 (this includes both individuals and businesses).
Lancashire Constabulary receive support from the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit (NECVCU) at a level 1 and 2 service (Level 1: appropriate support to less complex cases where there is no indication of vulnerability, Level 2: more complex and difficult cases, where an indication of vulnerability has been identified). Since the inception of the NECVCU service in 2018, 13,169 victims of fraud and cyber crime from Lancashire have been through the service across levels 1 and 2.
All victims who report to Action Fraud, including those in Lancashire, will receive a response and advice on how to protect themselves from fraud. If a victim’s case is being investigated, they receive support from the investigating force. If the case is not disseminated for investigation, it will be triaged for vulnerability and referred to the NECVCU. Cases with the highest level of vulnerability and those outside of the scope of the NECVCU (e.g. under 18s and businesses) will be sent to local police forces for safeguarding advice.
Funding for the NECVCU services is allocated at a national level and is not broken down by number of victims per force. Home Office investment in the NECVCU for the last five financial years (FY) is set out below.
The table sets out actual spend in financial years 2021/22-2024/25, and the indicative budget allocation for financial year 2025/26. All figures are provided to 1 decimal place:
FY 2021/22 Actual Spend | FY 2022/23 Actual Spend | FY 2023/24 Actual Spend | FY 2024/25 Actual Spend | FY 2025/26 Indicative Budget | 5-year total |
£2.2m | £2.2m | £3.2m | £3.3m | £4.1m | £15.0m |
The NECVCU endeavours to make victims feel safer and more confident, whilst assisting them to recover from the crime and reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation. We do not hold data on force or constituency level revictimisation rates, but less than 1% of all the victims who engaged with the NECVCU at either level 1 or level 2 returned to the service.
We do not hold data on response times by forces, however 74% of level 2 victims are contacted by the NECVCU within 12 days of their initial report. However, there have been instances where the NECVCU have responded within 72 hours for those victims who present as extremely vulnerable.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54074 on Fraud: Lancashire, what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness of the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit's services among residents in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
A constituency level breakdown is unavailable. However, 5,991 fraud incidents, of all types, were reported to Action Fraud in Lancashire in the year ending May 2025, totalling £30m in reported losses. 67% of these were cyber-enabled, meaning there were approximately 4,000 frauds reported in Lancashire with an online component in the year ending May 2025 (this includes both individuals and businesses).
Lancashire Constabulary receive support from the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit (NECVCU) at a level 1 and 2 service (Level 1: appropriate support to less complex cases where there is no indication of vulnerability, Level 2: more complex and difficult cases, where an indication of vulnerability has been identified). Since the inception of the NECVCU service in 2018, 13,169 victims of fraud and cyber crime from Lancashire have been through the service across levels 1 and 2.
All victims who report to Action Fraud, including those in Lancashire, will receive a response and advice on how to protect themselves from fraud. If a victim’s case is being investigated, they receive support from the investigating force. If the case is not disseminated for investigation, it will be triaged for vulnerability and referred to the NECVCU. Cases with the highest level of vulnerability and those outside of the scope of the NECVCU (e.g. under 18s and businesses) will be sent to local police forces for safeguarding advice.
Funding for the NECVCU services is allocated at a national level and is not broken down by number of victims per force. Home Office investment in the NECVCU for the last five financial years (FY) is set out below.
The table sets out actual spend in financial years 2021/22-2024/25, and the indicative budget allocation for financial year 2025/26. All figures are provided to 1 decimal place:
FY 2021/22 Actual Spend | FY 2022/23 Actual Spend | FY 2023/24 Actual Spend | FY 2024/25 Actual Spend | FY 2025/26 Indicative Budget | 5-year total |
£2.2m | £2.2m | £3.2m | £3.3m | £4.1m | £15.0m |
The NECVCU endeavours to make victims feel safer and more confident, whilst assisting them to recover from the crime and reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation. We do not hold data on force or constituency level revictimisation rates, but less than 1% of all the victims who engaged with the NECVCU at either level 1 or level 2 returned to the service.
We do not hold data on response times by forces, however 74% of level 2 victims are contacted by the NECVCU within 12 days of their initial report. However, there have been instances where the NECVCU have responded within 72 hours for those victims who present as extremely vulnerable.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54074 on Fraud: Lancashire, what the average response time is for victims of online fraud and scams to receive support from the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit after reporting an incident.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
A constituency level breakdown is unavailable. However, 5,991 fraud incidents, of all types, were reported to Action Fraud in Lancashire in the year ending May 2025, totalling £30m in reported losses. 67% of these were cyber-enabled, meaning there were approximately 4,000 frauds reported in Lancashire with an online component in the year ending May 2025 (this includes both individuals and businesses).
Lancashire Constabulary receive support from the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit (NECVCU) at a level 1 and 2 service (Level 1: appropriate support to less complex cases where there is no indication of vulnerability, Level 2: more complex and difficult cases, where an indication of vulnerability has been identified). Since the inception of the NECVCU service in 2018, 13,169 victims of fraud and cyber crime from Lancashire have been through the service across levels 1 and 2.
All victims who report to Action Fraud, including those in Lancashire, will receive a response and advice on how to protect themselves from fraud. If a victim’s case is being investigated, they receive support from the investigating force. If the case is not disseminated for investigation, it will be triaged for vulnerability and referred to the NECVCU. Cases with the highest level of vulnerability and those outside of the scope of the NECVCU (e.g. under 18s and businesses) will be sent to local police forces for safeguarding advice.
Funding for the NECVCU services is allocated at a national level and is not broken down by number of victims per force. Home Office investment in the NECVCU for the last five financial years (FY) is set out below.
The table sets out actual spend in financial years 2021/22-2024/25, and the indicative budget allocation for financial year 2025/26. All figures are provided to 1 decimal place:
FY 2021/22 Actual Spend | FY 2022/23 Actual Spend | FY 2023/24 Actual Spend | FY 2024/25 Actual Spend | FY 2025/26 Indicative Budget | 5-year total |
£2.2m | £2.2m | £3.2m | £3.3m | £4.1m | £15.0m |
The NECVCU endeavours to make victims feel safer and more confident, whilst assisting them to recover from the crime and reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation. We do not hold data on force or constituency level revictimisation rates, but less than 1% of all the victims who engaged with the NECVCU at either level 1 or level 2 returned to the service.
We do not hold data on response times by forces, however 74% of level 2 victims are contacted by the NECVCU within 12 days of their initial report. However, there have been instances where the NECVCU have responded within 72 hours for those victims who present as extremely vulnerable.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54074 on Fraud: Lancashire, whether the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit has a (a) presence and (b) partnership with local police forces in (i) Fylde constituency and (ii) Lancashire.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
A constituency level breakdown is unavailable. However, 5,991 fraud incidents, of all types, were reported to Action Fraud in Lancashire in the year ending May 2025, totalling £30m in reported losses. 67% of these were cyber-enabled, meaning there were approximately 4,000 frauds reported in Lancashire with an online component in the year ending May 2025 (this includes both individuals and businesses).
Lancashire Constabulary receive support from the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit (NECVCU) at a level 1 and 2 service (Level 1: appropriate support to less complex cases where there is no indication of vulnerability, Level 2: more complex and difficult cases, where an indication of vulnerability has been identified). Since the inception of the NECVCU service in 2018, 13,169 victims of fraud and cyber crime from Lancashire have been through the service across levels 1 and 2.
All victims who report to Action Fraud, including those in Lancashire, will receive a response and advice on how to protect themselves from fraud. If a victim’s case is being investigated, they receive support from the investigating force. If the case is not disseminated for investigation, it will be triaged for vulnerability and referred to the NECVCU. Cases with the highest level of vulnerability and those outside of the scope of the NECVCU (e.g. under 18s and businesses) will be sent to local police forces for safeguarding advice.
Funding for the NECVCU services is allocated at a national level and is not broken down by number of victims per force. Home Office investment in the NECVCU for the last five financial years (FY) is set out below.
The table sets out actual spend in financial years 2021/22-2024/25, and the indicative budget allocation for financial year 2025/26. All figures are provided to 1 decimal place:
FY 2021/22 Actual Spend | FY 2022/23 Actual Spend | FY 2023/24 Actual Spend | FY 2024/25 Actual Spend | FY 2025/26 Indicative Budget | 5-year total |
£2.2m | £2.2m | £3.2m | £3.3m | £4.1m | £15.0m |
The NECVCU endeavours to make victims feel safer and more confident, whilst assisting them to recover from the crime and reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation. We do not hold data on force or constituency level revictimisation rates, but less than 1% of all the victims who engaged with the NECVCU at either level 1 or level 2 returned to the service.
We do not hold data on response times by forces, however 74% of level 2 victims are contacted by the NECVCU within 12 days of their initial report. However, there have been instances where the NECVCU have responded within 72 hours for those victims who present as extremely vulnerable.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54074 on Fraud: Lancashire, how much funding has been allocated to support victims of online fraud and scams through the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit in each of the last five years.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
A constituency level breakdown is unavailable. However, 5,991 fraud incidents, of all types, were reported to Action Fraud in Lancashire in the year ending May 2025, totalling £30m in reported losses. 67% of these were cyber-enabled, meaning there were approximately 4,000 frauds reported in Lancashire with an online component in the year ending May 2025 (this includes both individuals and businesses).
Lancashire Constabulary receive support from the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit (NECVCU) at a level 1 and 2 service (Level 1: appropriate support to less complex cases where there is no indication of vulnerability, Level 2: more complex and difficult cases, where an indication of vulnerability has been identified). Since the inception of the NECVCU service in 2018, 13,169 victims of fraud and cyber crime from Lancashire have been through the service across levels 1 and 2.
All victims who report to Action Fraud, including those in Lancashire, will receive a response and advice on how to protect themselves from fraud. If a victim’s case is being investigated, they receive support from the investigating force. If the case is not disseminated for investigation, it will be triaged for vulnerability and referred to the NECVCU. Cases with the highest level of vulnerability and those outside of the scope of the NECVCU (e.g. under 18s and businesses) will be sent to local police forces for safeguarding advice.
Funding for the NECVCU services is allocated at a national level and is not broken down by number of victims per force. Home Office investment in the NECVCU for the last five financial years (FY) is set out below.
The table sets out actual spend in financial years 2021/22-2024/25, and the indicative budget allocation for financial year 2025/26. All figures are provided to 1 decimal place:
FY 2021/22 Actual Spend | FY 2022/23 Actual Spend | FY 2023/24 Actual Spend | FY 2024/25 Actual Spend | FY 2025/26 Indicative Budget | 5-year total |
£2.2m | £2.2m | £3.2m | £3.3m | £4.1m | £15.0m |
The NECVCU endeavours to make victims feel safer and more confident, whilst assisting them to recover from the crime and reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation. We do not hold data on force or constituency level revictimisation rates, but less than 1% of all the victims who engaged with the NECVCU at either level 1 or level 2 returned to the service.
We do not hold data on response times by forces, however 74% of level 2 victims are contacted by the NECVCU within 12 days of their initial report. However, there have been instances where the NECVCU have responded within 72 hours for those victims who present as extremely vulnerable.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54074 on Fraud: Lancashire, how many victims of online fraud and scams have received support from the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire since its inception in 2018.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
A constituency level breakdown is unavailable. However, 5,991 fraud incidents, of all types, were reported to Action Fraud in Lancashire in the year ending May 2025, totalling £30m in reported losses. 67% of these were cyber-enabled, meaning there were approximately 4,000 frauds reported in Lancashire with an online component in the year ending May 2025 (this includes both individuals and businesses).
Lancashire Constabulary receive support from the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit (NECVCU) at a level 1 and 2 service (Level 1: appropriate support to less complex cases where there is no indication of vulnerability, Level 2: more complex and difficult cases, where an indication of vulnerability has been identified). Since the inception of the NECVCU service in 2018, 13,169 victims of fraud and cyber crime from Lancashire have been through the service across levels 1 and 2.
All victims who report to Action Fraud, including those in Lancashire, will receive a response and advice on how to protect themselves from fraud. If a victim’s case is being investigated, they receive support from the investigating force. If the case is not disseminated for investigation, it will be triaged for vulnerability and referred to the NECVCU. Cases with the highest level of vulnerability and those outside of the scope of the NECVCU (e.g. under 18s and businesses) will be sent to local police forces for safeguarding advice.
Funding for the NECVCU services is allocated at a national level and is not broken down by number of victims per force. Home Office investment in the NECVCU for the last five financial years (FY) is set out below.
The table sets out actual spend in financial years 2021/22-2024/25, and the indicative budget allocation for financial year 2025/26. All figures are provided to 1 decimal place:
FY 2021/22 Actual Spend | FY 2022/23 Actual Spend | FY 2023/24 Actual Spend | FY 2024/25 Actual Spend | FY 2025/26 Indicative Budget | 5-year total |
£2.2m | £2.2m | £3.2m | £3.3m | £4.1m | £15.0m |
The NECVCU endeavours to make victims feel safer and more confident, whilst assisting them to recover from the crime and reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation. We do not hold data on force or constituency level revictimisation rates, but less than 1% of all the victims who engaged with the NECVCU at either level 1 or level 2 returned to the service.
We do not hold data on response times by forces, however 74% of level 2 victims are contacted by the NECVCU within 12 days of their initial report. However, there have been instances where the NECVCU have responded within 72 hours for those victims who present as extremely vulnerable.
Asked by: Baroness Finn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the report by the National Audit Office, Tackling fraud and protecting propriety in government spending during an emergency, published on 8 February 2024 (HC444), how the Public Sector Fraud Authority defines fraud resource levels of (1) no counter-fraud, (2) clearly mismatched, and (3) potential mismatched; how many government bodies they assessed for fraud resource levels; what methodology they used; and whether they will publish a list of the bodies falling into each of those categories.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As set out in the Public Sector Fraud Authority’s Treasury Minutes Progress Report to the Public Accounts Committee on the Sixty-ninth Report of Session 2022-23 (Tackling fraud and corruption against government), available here, we no longer define fraud resources levels in this way.
This is because it is not feasible to identify a ‘correct’ level of counter fraud and corruption investment. This level is dependent on multiple factors which are considered by individual departments and organisations. The optimum level varies, depending on each organisation's fraud risk appetite and the balance of the other risks they face.
Departments agree targets for their impact on fraud, and an overview is published in Cross Government Fraud Landscape report. We will publish an update on performance in tackling fraud in the next report which is due for publication in November 2025.
Asked by: Lord Agnew of Oulton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 1 April (HL5869), and in the light of the requirements of the Government Efficiency Framework, published 19 July 2023, whether they will publish (1) the full disaggregated breakdown of the £45 billion estimate in annual savings and productivity benefits by department and public body; (2) the corresponding cash-releasing and non-cash-releasing savings; and (3) the estimated investment required to achieve these savings.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
Details on the £45 billion figure were published as part of the State of Digital government review. The £45 billion figure referenced reflects an estimate of potential long-term annual benefits from digital transformation across the public sector, covering simplifying and automating routine tasks, shifting transactions to cheaper digital channels, and reducing fraud and error. Estimates include both cash-releasing and non-cash-releasing benefits. The estimate is designed to highlight the value at stake and not to inform specific organisational implementation through disaggregation. The Government Efficiency Framework (GEF) does not require savings estimates to be disaggregated or published. Any implementation of projects to deliver this value will require further departmental analysis and appraisal, including cost and benefit realisation in accordance with the Green Book.