Debate contribution: Tackling Scams and Improving Public Protection

Debate contribution by Mrs Naomi Long on 9 December 2025.

MLA

Mrs Naomi Long

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

9 December 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Tackling Scams and Improving Public Protection

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5296464

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am grateful to the Members from the Ulster Unionist Party who tabled the motion, because it is a very important issue, not least at this time of the year as many people move online to buy goods and services. In my Department, fraud and scams fall under the umbrella of safer communities. Members will be aware that the Programme for Government, which was published this year, made safer communities one of its key strands, making the issue of scams and fraud one of utmost importance. The Department is fully committed to working with all its partners, including the community and voluntary sector, as well as other Departments and organisations, to ensure that we have a community where we all feel safe to live and work. Tackling fraudsters and the impact of scams is not something that can be addressed by any one individual or organisation. As the motion rightly recognises, it takes a partnership approach to tackle crime, including fraud and scams, from the initial process of identifying the fraudsters and, just as important, supporting the victims, to ensure that those participating in such crimes are brought swiftly to justice. Prevention through awareness is a vital tool in combating fraudsters and scammers, who, unfortunately, often target the most vulnerable people in society. Despite Report Fraud’s figures showing that over 5,400 scams and frauds were reported in Northern Ireland for the period October 2024 to October 2025, we believe that under-reporting remains an issue. People often feel ashamed and embarrassed, even humiliated, that they have fallen prey to scammers, so we must be diligent and report all incidents of attempted fraud or scamming to ensure that we raise awareness of new trends and new scams as and when we become aware of them. Hopefully, the justice system has made it easier for those scams to be reported by anyone in a number of ways, including via Report Fraud, the PSNI or, indeed, Crimestoppers. There are elements of tackling fraud in the motion that are reserved matters and fall outside my area of responsibility as the Minister of Justice. They include aspects relating in particular to financial institutions. I will, however, take a moment to reflect on and acknowledge the harm and trauma that comes with being a victim of financial fraud. I have heard heartbreaking accounts of the effect that being a victim of fraud has had on individuals' lives and those of their families. Often, we hear of people who feel deeply ashamed that they have fallen victim to those manipulators and very distressing offences, and we know that there continues to be under-reporting. I emphasise that there is no shame in coming forward to report those crimes should you find yourself a victim. I encourage anyone who finds themselves in that position to come forward. I also stress that anyone, including any of us in the Chamber, could fall victim to fraud, not least given the increasing sophistication of those engaged in the crimes. Whilst fraud happens at all levels, I acknowledge that some of it has an organised and coordinated element to it. From a justice perspective, the risk of harm caused by organised crime, including fraud, is one of my top priorities. Criminals are interested in only one thing: lining their own pockets. They are motivated purely by profit, and they really do not care who gets hurt in the process. We all recognise that organised criminals are agile and innovative. They find new ways of exploiting people's vulnerabilities for their own gain, and, in turn, we have to adapt our collective response. It is essential that we send clear and consistent messages that crime does not pay and that profiting from people's vulnerabilities will not go unchallenged. I acknowledge the outstanding work of the PSNI in the area. It has a comprehensive approach to tackling fraud: protect, pursue, prevent and prepare. I am well aware that the PSNI works closely with other forces across the UK and feeds into national and international investigative arrangements. Only a few months ago, I visited the PSNI's cyber centre and heard first-hand about the work that it carries out on a daily basis and the difference that it makes. I am aware that the PSNI engages with financial institutions and makes proactive interventions to safeguard the public, where it is expected that people are actively being targeted by fraudsters. The National Crime Agency also has a key role to play in tackling fraud. It works closely with PSNI colleagues, and, in recent weeks, I met the director general of the NCA and was briefed on the complexity of the issues that the agency increasingly faces. Members will be aware that there is an already an exceptionally strong partnership-working model, which provides a robust response to organised crime across Northern Ireland. My Department works closely with a range of partners through the organised crime task force (OCTF) to reduce the harm caused by organised crime, including fraud and scams. The OCTF supports the development of operational partnerships and plays a key role in informing the public about successful operations against criminal groups and how to protect themselves from and report any suspicions of organised crime. The most recently published OCTF annual report and threat assessment provides case studies of how law enforcement partners have worked together to combat the threat posed by fraudsters and scammers, and it is available online if members wish to read more about it. The OCTF report, which my Department coordinates and publishes, includes work by the Department for the Economy's Trading Standards Service. The Trading Standards Service works to tackle mass marketing scams and doorstep crime and disrupt the operations of the perpetrators behind phone-enabled, online and mail scams. Tackling the cross-border response to financial crime, including scams and fraud, is of high importance to police forces on both sides of the border.

Only last month, senior officials from my Department attended the Sir George Quigley memorial lecture in Queens University, hosted by the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation. The focus of that event was on combating economic crime across the island of Ireland, with the keynote speakers being the Chief Constable of the PSNI and the Commissioner of an Garda Síochána. That demonstrates the importance that both organisations place on the issue. Both addresses covered the response to tackling fraud and scams, which shows the dedication and commitment to ensuring that that is viewed as a priority area of focus.

On the point in the motion regarding recognising that scams are increasingly linked to organised and cross-border activity, the PSNI has indicated that it is not aware of any specific data to show that there is a marked increase in cross-border criminality, including scams, in the context of Northern Ireland and the rest of Ireland. However, Members will be aware that all borders, whether on the island of Ireland or internationally, pose no obstacle to organised crime groups that are intent on carrying out fraud or exploitation. Indeed, they may provide them with additional opportunities. I also want to highlight and pay tribute to the excellent working relationships that exist between wider law enforcement agencies. Members will be aware that I regularly make ministerial statements to the Assembly following meetings that I hold with my Irish counterpart under the auspices of the intergovernmental agreement arrangements on criminal justice matters. Those meetings include updates on the work of the joint agency task force; I think that it was Mr McGlone who talked about that cross-border working. The joint agency task force is a powerful example of what can be achieved by collaboration and partnership working. Its meetings are jointly chaired by the PSNI and an Garda Síochána, alongside a range of partner organisations. JATF focuses on six designated strategic priority areas, one of which is financial crime. The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau works closely with the PSNI and the NCA in the prevention and detection of such crime. The Department of Justice is not a member of the joint agency task force because it has an operational focus. However, I am kept updated about its work, and I see great value in the positive, collaborative work between the members of the JATF and its many successful operations. In addition, the joint PSNI and an Garda Síochána cross-border policing strategy 2025-27 aims to build on established collaborative relationships. There are four main areas of focus in the strategy, one of which is proactive collaboration in the prevention and detection of crime, including financial crime and cybercrime. Both those examples — the JATF and the working group deriving from the strategy — demonstrate the strong partnership and close working relationships that often go unseen but are vital in keeping people safe. Fraud affects not only individuals but businesses. I note what my colleague Ms Egan and Mr Martin raised with regard to their constituents. I am determined to ensure that Northern Ireland does not fall out of step with the rest of the UK and, critically, that law enforcement agencies here have the full range of powers that are available elsewhere. As Justice Minister, I work closely with UK Government Ministers to consider any developments in policy and legislation that would benefit Northern Ireland. That includes the UK-wide fraud strategy led by the Home Office. The PSNI is also engaged in aspects of the fraud strategy, working with the UK and international law enforcement partners to identify and tackle emerging scams and assist in investigations impacting on victims in Northern Ireland. The UK Government will soon publish their new fraud strategy, which includes references to Northern Ireland. The strategy acknowledges and provides a response to the ever-increasingly sophisticated and transnational nature of fraud, with advances in technology making online fraud and scams more complex. We know that legislative measures alone will not solve the problem and that we all have a role to play. My Department helps to address harm and vulnerability caused by fraud and supports partnership working to tackle the threat of scams through its membership of the ScamwiseNI Partnership, chaired by the PSNI. The partnership was established in 2016 and now has over 45 partners that work collaboratively to provide valuable information and crucial advice to keep the public informed, aware and vigilant. The ScamwiseNI Partnership also has an effective online presence, and my Department uses its own social media channels, whether it is Bluesky, X, YouTube or Instagram, to highlight current scams and the steps that people can take to protect themselves. I will give Members an example of the work of Scamwise. On 29 September 2025, the PSNI launched a new romance fraud social media campaign, sharing advice on how to spot and stop those types of scams. A conference led and facilitated by the PSNI was held on 6 November 2025, where Dr Elisabeth Carter, a criminologist and forensic linguist, was the key speaker. She educated partners about how romance scams work, explained the psychological manipulation involved and provided insight into why victims stay engaged with the scammer. Those insidious crimes are carried out by people who exploit those who are lonely and vulnerable and who are living in the hope of having companionship; it is horrific that they carry that out in such a calculated manner. At the conference, Ofcom introduced partners to its recently launched serious game, which is an online interactive simulator to help users identify romance scam red flags. In addition to all that, the Department and the Northern Ireland Policing Board fund community safety partnerships across each of the 11 council areas, and those partnerships lead on community safety at a local level. Many have a dedicated community safety warden scheme that provides sessions on crime prevention and raises awareness of a range of scams and fraud, including romance scams. For example, as part of the awareness campaign, I was pleased to open the Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership's Challenging the Scamdemic scam awareness conference earlier this year, which was a really insightful opportunity for people to share their experiences. My Department and the PSNI jointly fund the Crimestoppers Northern Ireland regional manager post, which is a key role in raising awareness and encouraging reporting of intelligence by promoting, developing and maintaining awareness of Crimestoppers throughout Northern Ireland among all our partners and the general public. Crimestoppers ran a "Stop! Think Fraud" campaign on social media and radio earlier this year. The Department also provides about £2 million in core grant funding to Victim Support NI — the proposer of the motion and other Members have indicated the importance of having proper support for people who have been victims of fraud — which can provide a range of services to all victims and witnesses of crime, including victims of scams and fraud. Services include the provision of emotional support, advocacy, information and advice to victims; assistance with claiming criminal injuries compensation; and court support to adult prosecution witnesses who are called to give evidence in court. Together, those services help people who are affected by crime to deal with the impact, to claim compensation and to give their best evidence. I will close by reiterating that any of us could be a victim of fraud or a scam. I encourage anyone who has been a victim to report it. There is no shame in being a victim. By coming forward, you can help to protect others and to bring the scammers and fraudsters to account. Addressing community safety issues such as this can only be done through partnership working. My Department is committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to support preventative action, to raise awareness and to ensure that our communities are safe places to live, work and visit. I will continue to do everything that I can in support of that endeavour, and I thank the Members who secured the debate today. As this is the last opportunity that I will have, I wish all Members a peaceful Christmas and a crime-free new year.

2,337 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:09 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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