The Met takes emerging online threats seriously, which is why we launched FALCON this month (Fraud And Linked Crime Online). FALCON is part of the Organised Crime Command and is an increased capability built from our existing fraud and cyber crime teams. When at full strength FALCON will be responsible for investigating all fraud and acquisitive cyber crime impacting London.

FALCON has now taken responsibility for Action Fraud/National Intelligence Bureau referrals for 12 Boroughs and will grow to cover the whole of the MPS as staff numbers increase. The new unit currently consists of two volume fraud hubs (based at Peckham and Edmonton police stations), a small task force, the existing cyber crime unit and the complex fraud and prevention teams. Specialist hubs will be established in the east and west of London.

Already we are seeing some fantastic results from the teams working together and in partnership with London’s businesses with a number of arrests and charges as a result. On 19th August FALCON conducted an operation which centred on a criminal network that was obtaining the identity of innocent members of the public and fraudulently opening on-line credit accounts. This particular network relied on the co-operation of a delivery driver. Using staff from both the FALCON hubs at Peckham and Edmonton and the Task Force a proactive operation resulted in the lorry driver’s arrest and subsequent charges of conspiracy in relation to two fraud matters and an additional charge of theft.