Cyber: Keep the light on – An inspection of the police response to cyber-dependent crime

Published on: 24 October 2019

In early 2019, the Home Secretary commissioned HMICFRS to inspect the effectiveness and efficiency of the police response to cyber-dependent crime.

To do this, we assessed whether:

  • law enforcement has a well-designed strategy for tackling cyber-dependent crime;
  • organisational structures provide the necessary capacity, capabilities and partnerships;
  • victims of cyber-dependent crime receive a high-quality response; and
  • staff at local and national levels are provided with appropriate learning opportunities to deal with cyber-dependent crime.

The inspection took place between April and June 2019 in the following 10 forces, in addition to 3 law enforcement agencies and 9 regional organised crime units:

  • Greater Manchester Police
  • Hampshire Constabulary
  • Hertfordshire Constabulary
  • Humberside Police
  • Lincolnshire Police
  • The Metropolitan Police Service
  • Northumbria Police
  • South Wales Police
  • Warwickshire Police
  • Wiltshire Police

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Police response to cyber-dependent crime is generally good, but it can be inconsistent, finds Inspectorate

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