New report looks into impact of fraud

A new study by the Victims’ Commissioner has revealed that approximately 4.6 million people are affected by fraud every year - with 700,000 experiencing profound suffering as a result; yet presently only 15% of victims report being defrauded either to the police or Action Fraud.

We know CPA behaviours can often include financial abuse – either through theft, coercing parents into making purchases, or taking out credit cards and other items in the parent’s name. The latter of course is fraud, and anecdotally we know that many parents affected by CPA would fall under that 85% who don’t report the incident.

That’s why we were concerned to read the report’s findings, which include:

• Fraud cases have surged by 24% during the Covid pandemic.

• Fraud has grown hugely in recent years and now accounts for 39% of all crime.

• Estimates from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) showed there were 4.6 million fraud offences in the year ending March 2021, compared to 3 million incidents of theft and 1.6 million incidents of violent crime.

These crimes may not be officially recorded for a variety of reasons, including fear, embarrassment and intimidation, all of which are often factors when CPA is occurring – as well as parents understandably not wanting report their children to authorities for such a serious offence.

The study concluded that too many victims still receive poor service from the police and are denied justice, and that both investigation and prevention of fraud services remain under-resourced.

Currently 2% of police resources are allocated to fraud, and fewer than 8,000 prosecutions were recorded in 2019. In July 2021, the Government published its ‘Beating Crime’ plan and promised to replace Action Fraud with an improved national fraud and cybercrime reporting system. This may facilitate the ways to report fraud, yet the emotional impact is just as important.

The Victims’ Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird QC, said: “We know that the police response to fraud, though getting better, is still not good enough. But it’s not just the investigative response to fraud that needs attention. We need to know how well the overwhelming majority of fraud victims – who will not get a criminal justice outcome – are being supported. Most experience little to no victim are.”

Diana Fawcett, Chief Executive of the independent charity Victim Support, added: “We welcome this timely and detailed report from the Victims’ Commissioner. The publication of the Government’s fraud strategy can’t come soon enough – it needs to be bold, ambitious and backed up by significant resourcing.”

You can read the full report here.

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Allen Lane Foundation Supports New Workshop Lead Role to Expand Support for Parents

By PEGS Admin • March 18, 2026

We are thrilled to announce that the Allen Lane Foundation has generously funded a new Workshop Lead role to coordinate and deliver online workshops for parents and carers affected by Child-to-Parent Abuse (CPA) over the next 12 months. Parents and carers affected by CPA are often isolated, unsupported, and unsure where to turn. Our 2024 survey shows that 96% of parents feel isolated, 94% stressed, 92% scared, and 100% report an impact on emotional wellbeing. Over 70% have had to reduce or leave work. With demand for support rising to over 450 referrals per month and a 116% increase in November 2025 there is an urgent need for structured, accessible help. Expanding Online Workshops and 1:1 Support The new Workshop Lead will deliver a weekly online workshop for up to 15 participants, covering practical and emotional wellbeing topics such as stress management, goal-setting, and specialist techniques like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Alongside the weekly sessions, the project will also run: Bi-monthly two-part specialist workshops Monthly wellbeing workshops By taking the lead on workshop delivery, the Workshop Lead will free up our practitioner team to provide more personalised one-to-one support to high-risk parents, reaching an additional estimated 50 parents in need. Over 12 months, we anticipate that over 200 parents will benefit directly from group workshops, gaining tools to manage risk, improve emotional wellbeing, reduce stress, and build confidence. The workshops will also create a safe space for peer connection, helping to reduce isolation and foster resilience. Measuring Impact We will track success through attendance figures, participant feedback, and pre- and post-workshop surveys to capture changes in confidence, coping strategies, and wellbeing. Practitioners will also monitor the effect of increased one-to-one support to ensure parents feel safer, supported, and better able to manage their situation. Michelle John, our founding director, says: "Allen Lane Foundation’s continued support enables us to reach more parents and provide the practical guidance and personal support they urgently need. This Workshop Lead role will make a real difference, helping parents feel safer, more confident, and connected, while allowing our practitioners to provide targeted one-to-one support where it’s needed most." We are incredibly grateful to the Allen Lane Foundation for their ongoing belief in our work. This funding allows us to expand our online support, reach more parents, and provide both group and personalised assistance for those affected by CPA.