Crime and Policing

Nicholas Reynolds was found guilty of conspiracy to corrupt today at Blackfriars Crown Court following an extensive investigation and prosecution brought by the Serious Fraud Office.

https://www.sfo.gov.uk/2018/12/19/five-convictions-in-sfos-alstom-investigation-into-bribery-and-corruption-to-secure-e325-million-of-contracts/

The director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has said she wants the agency to be able to go after the "corporate big boys" who typically evade prosecution for economic crime and fraud.

Fraudsters created make-believe companies to apply for credit from well-known businesses, including American Express and Barclaycard

Tens of thousands of fraud victims have been denied justice after a computer algorithm dismissed four-fifths of reported cases.

https://www.scottishlegal.com/article/computer-says-no-fraud-algorithm-denies-tens-of-thousands-justice

The City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) is tackling video games piracy as criminals are selling modded consoles together with hundreds of unauthorised copies of video games.

http://news.cityoflondon.police.uk/r/1159/police_combat_video_game_piracy_ahead_of_christmas

Courts orders a further confiscation of £450,000 to be paid within 3 months or face a further 4 years in prison for his part in a fibre optic fraud and bribery scheme targeted at KBC Lease (UK) Ltd and Barclays Bank.

https://www.sfo.gov.uk/2018/12/07/1-4-million-in-confiscation-orders-reached-in-fibre-optic-fraud-case/

The Court of Appeal upheld the decision by the Judge that there was insufficient evidence for a jury to consider in respect of the individual defendants on trial and ordered an acquittal.

https://www.sfo.gov.uk/2018/12/06/no-case-to-answer-ruling-in-case-against-former-tesco-executives/

The UK was awarded the excellent rating by the Financial Action Taskforce - the global standard setter for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing – in its Mutual Evaluation Report.

http://nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/1514-nca-s-key-role-in-uk-being-judged-world-leader-in-illicit-finance-fight

Research by the Police Foundation found that the overwhelming majority of fraud offences do not result in a conviction, “an absence of proper reporting” and, consequently, outcomes suffering. 

https://www.policeprofessional.com/news/fraud-should-be-taken-out-of-the-hands-of-local-forces/

We agree that fraud is significantly under-reported and that more can be done to improve the response to fraud in a number of ways, whether this is in improving gaps in outcome data; improving the service for victims; or shortening times between reports being received and disseminated.

http://news.cityoflondon.police.uk/r/1155/action_fraud_response_to_police_foundation_report