The Liberal Democrats have accused the Government of forgetting victims of fraud in Essex after senior Conservative Ministers overlooked fraud and computer misuse offences when making false claims on falling crime. 

Colchester Liberal Democrats have also called on the local Conservative MP Will Quince, to apologise to the thousands of people in Colchester who fell victim to fraud last year. 

There were 11,829 fraud and computer misuse offences referred to Essex Police last year – up 15.2% on the year before, analysis by Colchester Liberal Democrats reveals. This is the equivalent of 32.4 cases each day across Essex These victims are part of the four million people across England and Wales who were duped by fraudsters and online scammers last year. 

It comes after the UK Statistics Authority last week officially rebuked Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel for misleadingly claiming that crime had fallen, following a letter of complaint by Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng then claimed this weekend that fraud isn’t something people experience in their day-to-day lives. 

Liberal Democrat Martin Goss for Colchester, said: 

“Conservative ministers are causing immense hurt to fraud victims in Essex by dismissing this cruel crime. Many people around here have lost their life savings to remorseless scammers and suffered huge financial and emotional harm. 

“The 11,829 victims of fraud in Essex last year deserve a proper apology, not only from Colchester MP Will Quince but from the Prime Minister himself. This government has to start taking their plight seriously.” 

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