UK to Boost Funding Against Asian Scam Rings, Child Online Protection

Britain has committed financial resources to aid in dismantling cross-border scam operations situated in Southeast Asia. This commitment forms part of broader pledges aimed at enhancing the worldwide battle against organised criminal networks. The declaration was made within the United Kingdom's national address, presented by Alex Davies-Jones, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice, at the United Nations Crime Congress held in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Davies-Jones, who also serves as Minister for Victims, Violence Against Women and Girls, and International Justice, delivered her speech on Sunday, September 27, 2026. According to a statement published on the Home Office website on Monday, she affirmed that the UK would allocate financial assistance from 2026 to 2031 to dismantle these scam centres across Southeast Asia and bolster global initiatives against fraud.

Davies-Jones stated, "With a view to advancing crime prevention and criminal justice, I pledge that, between 2026 and 2031, the UK will: “Provide financial support to dismantle transnational scam compounds in Southeast Asia and strengthen our collective response to fraud.” She further highlighted the growing sophistication and cross-border nature of organised crime, emphasizing the critical need for improved international cooperation among nations. She articulated, "Crime does not respect borders. It’s ever more organised… Ever more sophisticated. So our response has to be every bit as connected, and relentless… It has to be built on co-operation, and a determination to act– together."

The British government had previously identified these scam centres as a significant component of the global fraud threat. Its 2026 Fraud Strategy explicitly noted that criminal networks and scam hubs operate internationally, frequently targeting individuals and enterprises across national boundaries. Davies-Jones also mentioned that the UK is allocating an additional £1.5 million towards various initiatives designed to combat organised crime. "The United Kingdom is also committed to UNODC’s Global Programme on Implementing the Organized Crime Convention… And promoting the Organized Crime Strategy Toolkit… Supporting thousands of practitioners in 20 countries worldwide. And this year, we’re investing £1.5 million more into initiatives to counter organised crime," she confirmed.

The minister pointed out that the growing reliance on digital platforms by offenders has elevated the importance of digital evidence in major investigations. She stated, "But these criminals increasingly operate online… And today, almost every serious investigation relies on digital evidence. So our capabilities also have to keep pace. Making sure agencies can access the data that they need to counter serious, organised crime… Coupled with the right oversight… That is a priority for the UK."

Davies-Jones further announced that the UK intends to implement safeguards on mobile phones and tablets to deter children from capturing, distributing, or viewing n*de images. This particular commitment is integrated into the UK's broader strategy to address violence against women and girls that is facilitated by technology. She affirmed, "With a view to advancing crime prevention and criminal justice, I pledge that, between 2026 and 2031, the UK will: “Launch a call for evidence on online misogynistic image-based abuse, to identify new harms and how we respond to them. Introduce effective protections on phones and tablets, to stop our children from taking, sharing or viewing n*de images, legislating to secure compliance if required.”

In June, the British government had previously stated its expectation that technology firms would activate or deploy features on smartphones and tablets to detect and block n*de images for minors, with legislation being considered should companies fail to comply. Davies-Jones underscored that the urgency for such actions has intensified as a greater portion of daily activities shifts to the online realm. She elaborated, "That could not be more important than in tackling violence against women and girls. At home, the UK has an ambitious goal: To halve this violence in a decade. But I do not want the fight to stop at our own borders. We want women and girls to live free from fear wherever they are in the world… And whether they are online, or offline. As more of our lives move into a digital space, abuse follows. The technology that connects and empowers… Also intimidates, and harms."

The minister also committed that the UK would maintain its support for global initiatives aimed at combating organised crime, developing capabilities within Ukraine's justice framework, and enhancing collaboration to safeguard cross-border survivors. She added that the UK would persist in backing the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Global Programme for the implementation of the Organized Crime Convention. Regarding artificial intelligence (AI), Davies-Jones acknowledged its potential to enhance the justice system, but stressed that its deployment must include proper safeguards. She noted, "AI gives us huge opportunities to deliver swifter, faster, fairer justice for the public we serve. The UK is pursuing this responsibly, through our AI Act..."