Real lives, real crimes: A study of digital crime and policing

Chapter 2. Our findings

2.1. Throughout this report, we have set out examples of how digital crime is committed, using real examples from victims. We have deliberately selected examples of everyday crimes in order to reinforce the point that digital crime is commonplace. The law which is applicable in each case is set out in annex A.

2.2. The symbols in the examples have these meanings:

2.3. In chapter 3, we set out the issues which the victims of digital crime face, and their experience of the police response.

2.4. In chapter 4, we consider the extent to which the police service is able to gauge accurately the size of the threat posed by digital crime.

2.5. In chapter 5, we look at the level of understanding of the threat posed by digital crime and the way in which the police service is equipping its staff in terms of learning and training to provide an appropriate response to it.

2.6. In chapter 6, we specifically consider how police forces are responding to online anti-social behaviour.

2.7. In chapter 7, we consider the extent to which police forces have developed the technical and specialist capability to deal effectively with digital crime.

2.8. In chapter 8, we set out the structures, leadership arrangements and external partnerships which the police service has put in place in order to combat digital crime, both at a local and national level.

2.9. In chapter 9, we consider the work of Action Fraud and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.

2.10. Thereafter, in chapter 10, we draw together the specific areas which we consider the leaders of the police service should have at the forefront of their collective minds so that victims of digital crime are provided with the best possible service, at a national and local level.

2.11. Throughout this report, we indicate how well police forces (based on our findings in the six forces that took part in this study) are responding to particular aspects of digital crime by using a progressive bar across the page. It is a simple and clear indication of how far the police service has come, and how much further it needs to travel to reach a good standard.

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Read Chapter 3: What did the victims think?