More than 5 million small- and medium-sized businesses operate in the UK. Many likely have no employees dedicated to IT and security, leaving them vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Through the work of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and schemes such as Cyber Essentials, the UK Government has been keen to help improve the cybersecurity of businesses in the country. Could the UK police be doing more to help combat cybercrime, especially at the local level?
Recently launched Cyber Resilience Centres in Manchester and the North East, along with 10 more across England and Wales, present a new opportunity for police to work with local businesses to understand and deal with the issue of cybersecurity.
Policing cybercrime in the UK
The UK polices forces have been upping their game in the cybersecurity space. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that around 1 million cyber-related crimes occurred in 2019, but actual figures could be much higher. A 2016 report by Barclays and the Institute of Directors found only 28% of cyberattacks against businesses in the UK were reported to the police.