Thousands of cyber crime reports quarantined by police after computer glitch branded them security risk

Thousands of reports of cyber crime were quarantined on a police database instead of being investigated because software designed to protect the computer system branded them a "security risk.”

The backlog stretched to around 9,000 reports of cyber crime and fraud at one point, with some of the cases dating back to October last year.

The reports had been made to Action Fraud and handed to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), run by the City of London Police. They were added to a database called Know Fraud where they are processed, assessed and distributed among investigators.

The problem was revealed by police watchdog Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in an investigation into how forces respond to cyber-dependent crime, offences which cannot be carried out without using a computer or other similar device

Matt Parr, Inspector of constabulary, said: "They have a problem in that they have got a backlog of crimes that they have been unable to pass out due to software problems."

In April around 9,000 reports were affected but this had reduced to about 6,500 by July, HMICFRS was told.

The report also revealed  most cyber crimes cases are closed with no further action being taken. Between 2015 and 2019 some 51 per cent to 62 per cent of cases were classed as "investigation completed - no suspect identified.”

"One of the least likely outcomes nationally is for offenders to be charged of summonsed," it added.

Between April and June, some 40 per cent of calls made to Action Fraud were hung up before they were answered, equating to 20,000 calls about cyber criime and fraud being abandoned each month.

In March last year the average wait time for a call to Action Fraud to be answered was 16 minutes, according to figures.

Mr Parr said this was a "huge under reported crime" which is costing the Government £1.1 billion a year. There were 25,000 reports of cyber-dependent crime in 2017/18 and 656,000 IP addresses were known to have been affected but the problem is thought to be far bigger.

He said there were "huge inconsistencies" across the 43 police forces in England and Wales and funding was "erratic". "The basic failing is that there's no national system," he added.

The report recommended a "central co-coordinating agency" which decides whether crimes should be investigated by local police forces or a national agency and ensures officers are trained "to the right standards".