One in ten Britons falls victim to online crime
Cybercrime now "the prevalent crime in the country" with nearly six million reported offences
New figures have revealed the true extent of cybercrime in England and Wales, with one in ten adults reported to have fallen victim to fraud or another online offence last year.
Crime data for 2015 recorded by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which covers online offences for the first time, shows there have been 5.8 million incidents. That's "far more than previously thought", says The Guardian, and much higher than the initial ONS estimate published in October last year.
Cybercrime is now "the most prevalent crime in the country", says the Daily Telegraph, "with a person 20 times more likely to become a victim than suffer robbery and ten times more likely to be defrauded than to suffer theft".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"At long last, we have the true picture of crime in England and Wales and it puts the former home secretary's [now Prime Minister] Theresa May's record in a new light," says shadow home secretary Andy Burnham.
For years fraud was thought of as a "victimless crime" which mainly affected businesses and banks, says BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw . It was not seen as a priority by police and politicians.
But the widespread use of computers, laptops and smart-phones to facilitate fraud has made the problem more pervasive. The chance of being a victim is the same "regardless of social class or whether someone lives in a deprived or affluent, urban or rural area", says the Guardian.
"That is something that we haven't seen before, says John Flatley, head of crime statistics at the ONS, who agrees that the victims are not confined to one group. "The risk is spread across all demographics," he says.
While the vast majority of cybercrime is made up of computer misuse offences and bank and credit card fraud, the figures also reveal that incidents of harassment – including malicious communications, social media abuse and revenge porn – have risen by a staggering 90 per cent.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The pros and cons of globalization
Pros and Cons Globalization can promote economic prosperity but also be exploitative
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - October 11, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - October 11, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - October 11, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - October 11, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Brits keeping 21 million ‘money secrets’ from friends and family, survey reveals
Speed Read Four in ten people admit staying quiet or telling fibs about debts or savings
By Joe Evans Last updated
-
London renters swap cramped flats for space in suburbia
Speed Read New figures show tenants are leaving Britain's cities and looking to upsize
By The Week Staff Published
-
Should the mortgage holiday scheme have been extended?
Speed Read Banks warn that some homeowners may struggle to repay additional debt
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
RBS offers coronavirus mortgage holidays
Speed Read Taxpayer-owned bank follows measures taken in virus-struck Italy
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
What are the changes to National Savings payouts?
Speed Read National Savings & Investments cuts dividends and prizes for bonds
By The Week Staff Published
-
China clears path to new digital currency
Speed Read Unlike other cryptocurrencies, Beijing’s would increase central control of the financial system
By Elliott Goat Last updated
-
Why are donations surging to the RNLI?
Speed Read Charity enjoys flood of funding after criticism for overseas work
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
PPI deadline day: how to claim
Speed Read Final chance for consumers to apply for compensation
By The Week Staff Published