Hello

For the past 10 years, I have provided funding for two specialist fraud caseworker roles at Victim Support Sussex. They follow up on referrals from Operation Signature - Sussex Police’s pioneering response to identify and support vulnerable victims of fraud.

The caseworkers deliver tailored one‑to‑one support to victims like Tamsin* (not the victim's real name, to protect her anonymity).

Throughout their two-year relationship ‘Mike’ constantly lied to Tamsin - even claiming he had terminal cancer before faking his own death.

Tamsin calculates she paid out more than £50,000 in total throughout the relationship. She is still trying to comprehend how someone she thought was so nice turned out to be so callous.

You can listen to Tamsin's story on my YouTube channel.

Victim Support Sussex supported Tamsin for a year after she fell victim to romance fraud. Using a blend of regular phone calls and face‑to‑face visits, Victim Support worked with Tamsin to help rebuild her emotional resilience and appeal for the return of her financial losses.

I'm pleased to share that, thanks to this support, Tamsin is now in a far stronger financial position and feels increasingly confident about her future.

Anyone can experience this type of fraud and it’s on the rise. Victim Support Sussex has seen a 5.5% increase in romance fraud referrals from Sussex Police in the past year, up from 310 referrals in Jan-Dec 2024 to 327 referrals in Jan-Dec 2025.

Romance fraud is particularly cruel and, in cases like Tamsin’s, victims are left emotionally and financially devastated, grieving for a relationship they believed was genuine and loving.

Far too many victims suffer in silence, unsure where to turn after such a profound breach of trust.

That’s why Victim Support’s specialist fraud caseworkers are so crucial in Sussex. They offer the time, expertise and compassion needed to help victims rebuild their confidence, navigate complex financial issues and start to recover from what is often a deeply traumatic experience. Their support is genuinely life‑changing.

Celebrating Safer Internet Day

Our Sussex Youth Ambassadors gathered at my office this week to celebrate Safer Internet Day with a packed agenda focused on internet safety.

Claudia Wilson, Digital Safety and Fraud Prevention Officer for West Sussex, led a session on how to stay safe online including practical tips to give to others.

The group then split into interactive break-out sessions where they learnt about Virtual Reality, TikTok and storytelling through voice.

The day concluded with a dedicated session on Artificial Intelligence (AI) delivered by Yanika Quinn from The Breck Foundation, which encouraged the Youth Ambassadors to interact and share their views on AI in relation to safety and its potential risks.

It is vital we give young people the skills and confidence to navigate the digital world safely. I hope our Youth Ambassadors took away some essential learning, which they can continue to share with their peers.

Katy Bourne OBE
Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner