The head of the National Crime Agency (NCA), Graeme Biggar, has raised concerns about hostile states, including Russia and North Korea, exploiting organised crime gangs based in the UK to carry out illegal activities and steal money. In his speech outlining the agency’s annual assessment of crime threats to Britain, Biggar emphasised the emerging connections between serious and organized crime and these hostile states.
Biggar highlighted North Korea’s long-standing utilisation of cybercrime to steal funds and more recently engage in cryptocurrency-related activities. He also mentioned the Russian state’s tolerance of cybercrime groups operating within its borders and its links to oligarchs and their associates. Additionally, Biggar noted a recent development where hostile states have started using organized crime groups, which may not necessarily share the same nationality, as proxies. The NCA, along with MI5 and counter-terrorism policing, is closely monitoring this evolving trend.
The NCA director-general emphasized that the largest group of offenders in the UK consists of those who pose a sexual threat to children. Estimates suggest that between 680,000 and 830,000 individuals fall into this category, approximately ten times the size of the prison population. Biggar expressed concern about the availability of online abuse images, which can normalize paedophiles’ behaviour and increase the risk of individuals progressing to commit child abuse themselves, whether real or AI-generated.
In the UK, around 59,000 individuals are involved in serious organized crime, generating approximately £12 billion annually from criminal activities. Additionally, an estimated £100 billion of illicit funds from around the world is laundered through the UK. The NCA highlighted several key threats to the country, including criminal exploitation of migrants arriving in the UK via small boats, a growing concern as arrivals have doubled to over 45,000 in 2022. Biggar mentioned gangs using flimsier, single-use boats and overcrowding them with more people.
Illegal drug use was also identified as a significant contributor to various crimes such as violence, theft, firearm offences, and modern slavery. The consumption of nearly 120 tonnes of cocaine and 40 tonnes of heroin each year in the UK poses a significant challenge. Moreover, the NCA’s wastewater analysis indicates a 25% increase in cocaine use in some areas. Efforts are being made to prevent the proliferation of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, as seen in the United States.
The prevalence of online fraud, accounting for over 40% of all crime, is another major concern. Biggar revealed that 75% of fraud is either partially or fully committed from overseas. Additionally, advancements in generative AI are making frauds more convincing, incorporating deep fake videos and Chat GPT technology to create compelling phishing emails.
Biggar acknowledged the evolving nature of technology, including the increased use of end-to-end encryption, which poses challenges to law enforcement agencies. He emphasised the need for law enforcement, including the NCA, to remain at the forefront of technological developments through collective vision and sustained investment. Furthermore, Biggar called for more effective strategic partnerships with technology companies, urging responsible behaviour and the integration of public safety measures alongside privacy considerations to harness the benefits of technology while mitigating its negative consequences.
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