City of London Police launches new national training to combat fraud and cyber crime

The City of London Police has launched a new national training programme aimed at equipping frontline officers with enhanced skills to combat fraud and cyber crime.

The Fraud and Cyber Essentials training programme, developed in partnership with the College of Policing, was rolled out on June 24, 2026. It is designed to provide officers and staff across England and Wales with the necessary knowledge to recognise fraud, identify vulnerabilities, and take prompt action during initial contact with the public. The training aims to ensure victims receive faster and more effective support when reporting these types of crimes.

Bar chart showing the number of "Report Fraud Accepted Crimes" for Q4 2025/26 and Q1 2026/27, compared to benchmarks.
Report Fraud Accepted CrimesSource: Economic Security and Cyber Crime Committee papers, 1 October 2026

The programme equips officers and staff with the knowledge to recognise a range of fraud and cybercrime, identify vulnerabilities, and take early action at the first point of contact. This initiative is a key component in strengthening the police response at the first point of contact.

The effectiveness of the Fraud and Cyber First Responders programme, which includes the Fraud and Cyber Essentials training, will be monitored through attendance levels. Its impact and effectiveness will be further assessed through HMIC inspections.

Bar chart showing PEEL Assessment Results for investigating crime and managing fraud, with some forces achieving standard and others not.
PEEL Assessment ResultsSource: Economic Security and Cyber Crime Committee papers, 1 October 2026

This training is part of a broader effort to enhance the police's capabilities in tackling economic security and cyber crime, as discussed in the Economic Security and Cyber Crime Committee's public reports pack. Public reports pack 01st-Oct-2026 11.00 Economic Security and Cyber Crime Committee

A flowchart illustrating the Fraud Investigation Model (FIM), detailing the stages from prevention and disruption to investigation, suspect management, and operational learning.
Fraud Investigation ModelSource: Economic Security and Cyber Crime Committee papers, 1 October 2026