Police software glitch leaves 6,500 fraud and cyber-crime in limbo rather than being investigated
- Four out of ten callers to Action Fraud have hung up because of long delays
- The body, run by City of London Police, investigates cyber crime and fraud
- The watchdog called for a new national agency to deal with cyber-crime reports
Software glitches mean 6,500 fraud and cyber-crime cases reported to a police hotline have not been investigated, it emerged yesterday.
Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services also found 40 per cent of callers contacting the Action Fraud line – 20,000 a month – hang up in frustration because of ‘long delays in getting through’. Action Fraud is run by the City of London Police as a national clearing house for reports of cyber-crime and other frauds.
Some of the 6,500 reported crimes hit by software problems have been in limbo in the hotline’s computer system for more than a year.
Software glitches mean 6,500 fraud and cyber-crime cases reported to a police hotline have not been investigated, it emerged yesterday
40 per cent of callers contacting the Action Fraud line – 20,000 a month – hang up in frustration because of ‘long delays in getting through’
It means victims have not even received confirmation that their report has been received and police forces have not been able to begin investigating, Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr found.
The watchdog called for a new national agency to deal with cyber-crime reports.