Cyber crime costs West Mercia region £30 million

The revelation, contained in statistics from Get Safe Online and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, has led to the region's police and crime commissioner John Campion launching a survey to evaluate the extent of cyber-crime across West Mercia.

Detective Chief Inspector Tim Bower, who is the business lead for cyber-crime for West Mercia Police, said the amount of offences is increasing but that the force is dedicated to tackling the issue.

He has also urged people to look at the steps they can take to protect themselves.

He said: "Cyber-crime is undoubtedly on the rise, but the good news is that knowledge really is power when it comes to both individuals and businesses protecting themselves.

"Research has shown that many losses are preventable by following some simple advice and we are urging people to take just a few minutes out of their day to make the clicks that count.

"There are some excellent online resources which are well worth clicking on, including Get Safe Online and our own campaign. Even if it's just for five minutes before work, in a lunch hour, during a bus journey home or during the adverts of a favourite programme we are urging everyone to have a quick look at some top tips."

The national figure for the amount lost through reported fraud and cyber crime is £10.9 billion, or £210 per person over the age of 16 living in the UK.

But a specially commissioned survey has revealed that the figure is likely to be much greater, with respondents who had been a victim of online crime alone losing an average of £523 each.

In addition, 39 per cent of people who said they had been victims of online crime said they had not reported the incident – meaning the overall amount of money lost by the UK could be even more.

Mr Campion, who was elected to the position of police and crime commissioner earlier this year, said he now wants "a more comprehensive picture of online crime and help shape support for victims."

He said: "Cyber is an emerging area of crime and it is important to understand how it is impacting our communities if we are going to be effective in tackling it. This survey will help ensure we listen to our communities and can focus our work on the biggest priorities.

"We must have an agile, dynamic approach to cyber crime though to ensure our work keeps pace with new cyber threats."

The survey results will be used to assess the impact of cyber crime across the region, and to tailor campaigns and support services.

To complete the survey visit surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RegionalCyber16

More information and advice from Get Safe Online can be found at https://www.getsafeonline.org/