Crime and Policing

The Home Secretary has hailed a pledge by world leaders to unite to fight fraud as a “massive step forward” in efforts to crack down on the crime.

The agreement was signed as representatives from governments of the Five Eyes intelligence partnership – the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – as well as those from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore and South Korea attended a summit in London.

The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has indicated that it intends to utilise existing but less commonly used powers to grant immunity notices to offenders who assist in its cases, and support reduced sentences to defendants who provide evidence to enable other prosecutions.

In parallel, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) stated that firms should expect more assertive supervision and enforcement, that they will speed up investigations and that firms will be increasingly named when an enforcement investigation is opened.

https://www.scotsman.com/business/fraud-investigations-look-likely-to-be-stepped-up-tom-stocker-4537899

On 13 February 2024, Nick Ephgrave gave his first public speech as Director of the UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

Mr Ephgrave celebrated the SFO’s recent victories, the biggest ever deferred prosecution agreement with Airbus, worth €1bn, the £280m prosecution of Glencore and the prosecution of a former solicitor for tipping off his client about a money laundering investigation.

A former secretary of the West Mercia Police Federation has been charged with fraud.

West Mercia Police said that Jamie Harrison, 53, of Worcester Road, Droitwich, faces 17 counts of fraud – in connection to the alleged misappropriation of federation members’ funds, and abuse of hospitality, between 2010 and 2018.

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/crime/2024/02/16/former-police-federation-secretary-charged-with-fraud/

Nick Ephgrave’s first major speech since taking the top job at the Serious Fraud Office took in whistleblowing, disclosure and new investigative techniques.

The new director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Nick Ephgrave, has outlined his vision for the agency in his first public speech . Speaking yesterday (13 February) at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, Ephgrave said he was committed to building a strong, dynamic and pragmatic authority that can tackle the most serious or complex cases of fraud, bribery and corruption.

The head of the UK’s anti-fraud agency will set out his vision for a “bolder, pragmatic, more proactive” prosecutor this week in his first public speech since taking up the position late last year.

The director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Nick Ephgrave, is set to give his maiden speech tomorrow evening at an event hosted by defence and security think tank Royal United Services Institute.

For the SFO, the year 2023 was largely a story of an organisation trying to turn a page. The flurry of activity around the departure of former Director Lisa Osofsky and the appointment of Nick Ephgrave QPM, gave a taste of what might be expected of the agency in the months to come. Ephgrave's tenure started with due fanfare with new investigations announced and a series of raids whilst several long running international investigations were dropped shortly before Ms Osofsky's departure. After a difficult few years in which the SFO had repeatedly made headlines for the wrong reasons, this new leadership, together with the reforms set out in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, which gained Royal Assent in October, offered the prospect of change. However, despite the buoyant mood, key challenges remain if the SFO is to prove itself.

https://www.mishcon.com/news/sfo-new-investigations-and-prosecutions-2023

The UK’s leading fraud-fighting police force has warned of pressure on its ‘ability to maintain officer levels’, after the Government’s provisional settlement left it with a potential funding gap of up to £3 million for 2023/24.

https://www.citymatters.london/countrys-leading-anti-fraud-police-force-may-be-hampered-by-budget-gap/

Convicted crooks were told to pay back more than £2.5 million last year after West Midlands Police pursued their 'dirty money'.

Criminals involved in offences such as drug dealing and fraud can accrue significant sums of money from their illegal activities.

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/2024/01/01/criminals-told-to-repay-25-million-of-ill-gotten-gains-after-police-pursue-dirty-money/

A man who fled the country five years ago while he was on trial for fraud offences has been brought back to the West Midlands to face justice.

Zahid Khan had fled to Dubai before the end of his trial back in 2018.

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/crime/2023/12/23/man-who-fled-country-five-years-ago-following-fraud-conviction-appears-in-court/