Mayor urged to secure the future of Cyber Helpline
In a budget related motion, the London Assembly has today called on the Mayor to allocate additional funding to secure the future of the Cyber Helpline.
Cyber-crime is the fastest growing type of crime across the UK. It has devastating consequences, with many Londoners losing thousands of pounds to scammers. Cyber-crime is not only financial in nature but also includes issues specifically targeting women and girls, such as revenge porn and cyberstalking, where victims need support to protect their digital identity.
The Assembly has called on the Mayor to reflect Londoners concerns following cancellation of MOPAC funding to the Cyber Helpline.
Emma Best AM, who proposed the motion, said:
“The Cyber Helpline provides a vital service to Londoners for such little cost, and as such I am pleased that the London Assembly has supported my motion calling on the Mayor to ensure this service survives.”
“Simple harm prevention is available to us through services like the Cyber Helpline and we must ensure they continue to serve Londoners.”
The full text of the motion is:
“This Assembly recognises that fraud, particularly cyber-crime, is the fastest growing crime type in London and across the UK, with a 72 percent year on year increase in cases across the capital and half of all crimes committed in England and Wales.
This Assembly believes that cyber-crime can have devastating consequences for Londoners, with many losing thousands of pounds to scammers.
This Assembly notes that The Cyber Helpline has successfully opened 2,060 London cases, and that 80,000 Londoners have accessed its online self-help advice.
This Assembly further notes that cyber-crime is not only financial in nature but also includes issues specifically targeting women and girls, such as revenge porn and cyberstalking, where victims need support to protect their digital identity.
This Assembly highlights that Londoners are most concerned about robbery, knife crime, fraud and cyber-crime, yet the Mayor’s priorities do not appear to reflect these concerns following his cancellation of MOPAC funding to this important charity.
This Assembly wishes to remind the Mayor of his commitments, and calls on him to allocate £175,000 from MOPAC’s £18.9 million (less than 1%) of total budget to secure the future of The Cyber Helpline.”
The meeting can be viewed via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- The Motion was agreed by 12 for and 0 against.
- Emma Best AM, who proposed the motion, is available for interview.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Daniel Zikmund in the Assembly Media Office on 07860647577 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.