Fraud
Police issues
Fraud is not the victimless crime that it is often said to be. Fraud may affect businesses which in turn leads to all of us ultimately paying for fraud through increased prices, higher interest rates on plastic cards and higher premiums for insurance policies etc. If left unchecked fraud may have a negative effect on the reputation of the UK as being a safe country in which to do business and therefore have a negative effect on the economy. A report commissioned by ACPO and published in March 2007 estimated that fraud overall cost the country at least £13.9bn (in 2005). Companies which fall victim to fraud may be driven to bankruptcy leading to loss of livelihood for staff. Individuals who are victims of fraud may lose savings. Tragically, some large investment frauds have been credited with driving some victims to suicide.
Those who commit fraud may be involved in other serious and organised crime with further reaching implications for victims. There is evidence to suggest that terrorists have used fraud to raise funds and there have been convictions in the UK of people found to be using credit card fraud to fund terrorist activity.
Fraud reporting and recording
It is important that fraud is recorded properly because the offence could provide vital intelligence information. All fraud offences should be recorded in accordance with Home Office counting rules which are available on the Home Office website. The counting rules have been revised in line with the Fraud Act which came into force on 15 January 2007. Following discussion with ACPO and the financial services sector a new system for recording plastic card, online banking and cheque fraud has been introduced. All cheque, plastic card or on-line bank account fraud should be reported by the public directly to the financial institution concerned as the ultimate victim, rather than to the police. Fraud reported to the financial institution will then only be reported to the police if they are satisfied that there is a reasonable chance of a suspect being brought to justice through a police investigation.
A new system for recording fraud has also been introduced. Prior to the introduction of the Fraud Act 2006 if there were 10 fraudulent transactions on an individual credit card this would have necessitated the recording of 10 separate crime reports. From 15th January 2007 there is a requirement to only record 1 crime based on the number of accounts (credit cards) that have been defrauded.
ACPO Economic Crime Portfolio
The ACPO Economic Crime Portfolio which reports to the ACPO Crime Committee is chaired by Commissioner Mike Bowron of the City of London Police. The National Working Group on Fraud (NWGF) reports to the ACPO Group. The membership of the NWGF is drawn from a range of UK police forces, including Northern Ireland and Scotland, to ensure that the interests of all fraud squads, irrespective of size, are equally represented. The ACPO Crime Committee regards the working group as a key source of information and advice. As a result the NWGF has become an important liaison point for agencies and organisations tasked with combating fraud.
In this section of the website you will find further information on:
Home Office advice and guidance on accepting fraud cases for investigation.
Details of the expanded role for the City of London Police Economic Crime Unit
Information about the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU)
A leaflet about plastic card safety copies of which are available for distribution to members of the public
Last update: Wednesday, April 30, 2008