Policing fraud in England and Wales: examining constables’ and sergeants’ online fraud preparedness

Abstract

The significant economic and emotional consequences of online fraud have not been equally matched by the policing response to these offenses. This paper examines constables’ and sergeants’ perceived preparation to respond to online fraud through a quantitative analyses of survey data collected from over 1300 officers from 35 local police agencies across England and Wales. The findings demonstrated that constables and sergeants being prepared to respond to online fraud was related to agencies having clear policies and procedures, constables having computer skills and online incident experiences, and being able to relate to fraud victims. The implications of this study for first responder training and resource development to respond to cybercrimes are considered.