The Cyber Helpline Publishes Annual Trustees Report 2023/24
We are pleased to announce that the annual Trustees Report for The Cyber Helpline is now available. This report highlights our financial statements and ongoing work to provide immediate, expert cybersecurity support to those who need it.
The Cyber Helpline’s Impact
In England and Wales alone, we estimate there are 5 million victims of online harm every year, with just 1.7 million reporting to the police. Shockingly, we found that 98% of reported cases result in “no further action”. The Cyber Helpline has been addressing this huge justice gap by mobilising the cybersecurity community to offer cyber expertise and guidance to victims. During this time, over 300,000 individuals accessed our self-help guides, and we opened 23,740 cases to provide direct assistance to victims.
Our achievements for the year also include:
Improved financial position compared to the previous year, with total net assets at £25,485.
Enhanced operational capacity whilst maintaining financial stability.
An approximately 100% uptake in the number of individuals benefiting from The Cyber Helpline’s services since the last financial year.
Service users report a high level of satisfaction with The Cyber Helpline, scoring a 9 out of 10 average.
Won Charity of the Year at The National Cyber Awards for the third consecutive year.
Launched a dedicated service for Londoners that was funded by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC).*
Looking Ahead
“Our key focus is helping more victims and we can only do this if we receive adequate funding… Over the last eight years, we have collected a huge amount of data and insight into how individuals are targeted online, how criminals carry out their attacks, how they can be stopped, and the impact on individuals. A key focus for our team is going to be building tools and intelligence that will help everyone understand these threats and build safer online services.”
Despite technology now being involved in 58% of crime, our policing and justice systems are struggling to meet capacity. The rise of AI, a lack of safeguarding on social media platforms, and the integration of technology into every facet of our lives has created alarming vulnerabilities that demand immediate attention. This crisis also comes at a time when *victim support budgets in the UK face cuts and limited, available resources continue to shrink.
We encourage all Police and Crime Commissioners, grant funders, and relevant government departments to review the full trustees report and join us in addressing stronger protections and support systems for victims of cybercrime.
The Cyber Helpline is a charity supporting victims of cybercrime across the UK. We provide guidance, resources, and reassurance to work towards a world where no one has to navigate cybercrime alone.