New national fraud training puts victims first
NOTE: content embargoed until June 24.
New national training designed to transform how frontline officers and staff respond to fraud, cyber and economic crime has been launched by the College of Policing.
The Fraud, Cyber and Economic Crime for the Frontline training, which places victims at the centre of each interaction with police, was developed in partnership with City of London Police, the national lead force for fraud. It supports a more consistent response to the issue across England and Wales, reinforcing the critical ‘golden hour’ response by ensuring accurate recording, swift referrals and effective victim support when it matters most.
Fraud is the largest crime type in England and Wales, accounting for 45% of all reported crime and costing £14.4 billion in 2023–24. The Government's Fraud Strategy 2026–2029 was clear that tackling the growing issue requires the whole workforce, not just specialists.
The online Fraud, Cyber and Economic Crime for the Frontline training was developed to give officers and contact management staff outside specialist teams the foundation knowledge they need to recognise fraud, respond effectively, and support victims early.
It equips officers and contact management staff with essential knowledge to identify vulnerability and take early action. Two tailored versions are available: one for frontline police officers and one for contact management staff, who are often the first point of contact for victims.
Both are delivered through the College of Policing’s online platform College Learn, making them easily accessible via tablet or mobile. The training is free to forces and provides a more consistent national foundation to help policing recognise fraud earlier, respond more effectively, ensure every interaction with the public helps protect victims, and rebuild confidence in policing.
T/Detective Chief Superintendent Jamie Daniels, Crime & Criminal Justice Delivery Lead at the College of Policing, said:
“Fraud is one of the most significant and fastest‑growing threats facing the public today. It can happen to anyone, anywhere, and its impact goes far beyond financial loss, often leaving lasting emotional harm and a deep erosion of trust.
“This training is about making sure policing responds differently. It gives every frontline officer and member of staff the confidence to spot fraud, act quickly, and provide the right support at the earliest opportunity, when it makes the greatest difference.
“Putting victims first is at the heart of this approach. From the first report through to investigation and safeguarding, we are equipping officers to understand vulnerability, respond with empathy, and ensure victims feel heard, supported and protected.
“We are pleased to deliver this training in close partnership with City of London Police. Together, we are strengthening the national response and building capability across policing, improving outcomes for victims and helping to rebuild public trust and confidence in how these deeply personal crimes are tackled.”
City of London Police, Deputy Commissioner, National Coordinator for Economic and Cyber Crime, Nik Adams said:
“Fraud and cyber-crime now account for more than 45% of all crime, meaning officers and staff are likely to encounter victims in almost any policing interaction. While frontline personnel are not expected to be specialists, they must be able to recognise the warning signs, safeguard victims and take early action.
“The threat is also evolving rapidly. Criminals are increasingly exploiting the power of influence through trusted platforms, using convincing narratives, and taking advantage of the transformational rise of AI to erode our traditional guardrails of suspicion. That makes early recognition and a positive, confident response from first contact even more critical.
“This training reflects a core principle of our national response: we cannot simply arrest our way out of this problem, nor can we leave it to specialist economic crime teams alone. Every officer, PCSO and member of police staff has a role in identifying fraud, protecting victims and disrupting criminality.
“Crucially, through Report Fraud we can join the dots, turning information from local incidents into a national and international intelligence picture, enabling a more effective end-to-end response. This e-learning is another important step in delivering that whole-system approach.”
As the national lead force, City of London Police coordinate the UK response to fraud through intelligence, investigations and the national reporting service, ensuring frontline reporting leads to positive action against offenders.
The force also hosts the UK’s national reporting service Report Fraud, which acts as a single gateway for victims and businesses to report cybercrime and fraud, enabling intelligence to be assessed, shared and acted upon at scale. This coordination is critical to identifying offenders, disrupting organised crime networks and ensuring victims receive a consistent standard of response.