Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Tijs Broeke.

These Members observed the meeting online: Alderman Prof. Emma Edhem, and James Tumbridge.

Deputy Madush Gupta stated that he is an employee of the Lloyds Banking Group that has a significant partnership with the City of London Police related to economic crime.

To consider the public minutes and non-public summary of the Economic and Cyber Crime Committee held on the 11^th of May 2023.

RESOLVED, That the public minutes of the meeting of 11 May 2023 be approved as an accurate record of the proceedings.

Joint report of the Commissioner and the Town Clerk.

The Committee noted the outstanding references.

Report of the Executive Director for Innovation and Growth.

The Committee noted the report of the Executive Director Innovation and Growth (IG) summarising the activity taking place across IG in relation to cyber and economic crime, as well as cross-team working between IG and the City of London Police (CoLP) since the Committee last convened in May 2023. 

Members expressed support for the activity, and congratulated IG and the executive on the progress made.

A Member commented that the quality of the panel discussion would benefit from some improvement. In response to a question on how many companies were taking part in the next showcase, the meeting heard that two companies would be describing their journey with two further companies on the panel, and that pre-meetings were scheduled in order to manage the events. 

In response to a question on what communication was planned to highlight the outcomes of the exercise, the meeting heard that a range of channels would be used to highlight outcomes.      

Report of the Commissioner.

The Committee noted the report of the Commissioner for April to June 2023 setting out the assessment of the City of London Police (CoLP) against the National Lead Force (NLF) aims and objectives as set out in the National Lead Force Plan 2020-2023 (NLF Plan).

On Outcome 1: Members noted improvements in headcount and call-answering times,and commented on the apparent discrepancy between a call abandonment rate of 33% (which had improved) and a satisfaction rate of 96% that clearly did not take into account those who had abandoned the call. The meeting heard that the satisfaction rate did not reflect the fact that cases were not necessarily subsequently investigated and that there was merit in developing a different metric to reflect the overall trajectory of the experience (in response to a question on the development of better measurement strategies). A Member commented that the Monday to Friday service of operation for telephone advice was sub-optimal, and the meeting heard that the aim was to expand the provision, thereby improving the user experience.

On Outcome 3: A Member sought clarification on whether the bottleneck could be attributed to the judiciary. The Committee noted that capacity was one of the many considerations on whether to progress a situation to the court, noting also that in many cases junior barristers were tasked with assessing cases for prosecution - and that there was merit in providing training on evidence for police officers. The meeting heard that three bottlenecks existed: police forces screening out crime (work is ongoing to improve prioritisation activity); disclosure challenges; and pressures on the CPS generally. The Committee noted recent investments in the new City of London law courts at Salisbury Square (see action point 5/2023/P). On Covid-related loan fraud: the meeting heard that these are public sector fraud incidents (rather

Report of the Commissioner.

The Committee noted the report of the Commissioner providing information on key activities delivered as part of the National Lead Force Plan.

In response to a question on inter-operability progress (particularly with Police Scotland), the meeting heard that all relevant partners were enthusiastic about signing up to an overarching communications fraud protection to be delivered in 2024. The meeting noted that Police Scotland are currently working towards being involved in a national campaign.   

Report of the Commissioner.

The Committee noted the report of the Commissioner updating the Committee on the progress of the Cyber Griffin programme.

Members expressed strong support for Cyber Griffin, noting its role in ensuring that London is a safe custodian of money and noting also its importance in protecting London’s financial services, particularly given increased threats of hostile state action that could destabilise the UK economy – as well as the potential ‘soft power’ synergies.  A Member asked whether there was any scope for the growth of Cyber Griffin at international level and for the development of commercial opportunities, and the meeting heard that consideration was being given to expanding overseas (particularly in Australia) in the wake of phase 2.      

A Member commented that the targets might benefit from being more ambitious, and the meeting noted that a proposal would be brought to revise those targets.

In response to a question on whether there was a role for the cyber resilience centres to support, promote and deliver some of the services set out, the meeting heard that the centres would be used to help deliver the services using the Griffin brand at national level.

A Member asked whether the role of Cyber Griffin had been communicated to the Corporation, the meeting heard that training dates would be scheduled (see action point 6/2023/P) as well as raising the programme at Common Council level, noting the challenges of commercialisation as part of the Corporation’s work.

A Member asked whether cyber capability assessments were on track to be revived during 2023 following software issues. The meeting heard that clarification would be provided on that shortly.

There were no questions.

There was no other business.

MOTION - That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act.

RESOLVED, That under section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that the remaining items involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

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To consider the non-public minutes of the Economic and Cyber Crime Committee held on the 11^th of May 2023.

The Committee considered the non-public minutes of the meeting of 11 May 2023.

Joint report of the Commissioner and Police Authority Director.

The Committee received the report of the Police Authority Team and Commissioner of Police. 

The Commissioner to be heard.

The Committee heard the update of the Commissioner.

Report of the Commissioner.

The Committee received the report of the Commissioner setting out the progress of the National Workforce/ People Strategy being developed with partners including National Crime Agency (NCA), National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) and Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC). 

Report of the Commission.

The Committee received the report of the Commissioner providing an overview and highlights of the scope of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU).

Report of the Commissioner.

The Committee received the report of the Commissioner providing an update on the progress of the business case and programme of transformation of the Next Generation Service of the Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting and Analysis Service (FCCRAS).  

Report of the Commissioner.

The Committee received the report of the Commissioner providing an overview of Operation Enlace, the Microsoft secondment into the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), with a view to informing the Board of the opportunities such secondments offer National Lead Force (NLF).