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The Midland Region Fraud Challenge
The Midland Region Fraud Challenge was set up to increase the awareness of fraud and to debate and raise issues effecting both the police and business in the area. It is a joint initiative between the Midland Region Working Group on Fraud (comprising the region's nine police Fraud Squads and the BTP) and KPMG.
Seminars have been held in Birmingham since October 2001. Keynote speakers included Digby Jones, the Chairman of the DTI, and Ros Wright, the Head of the Serious Fraud Office.
Seminars cover topical issues for the police and commercial businesses. Delegates receive up-to-date input from experts and take part in breakout discussions raising points of interest and areas for further development.
Two additional evening seminars have been held during the last 12 months. Their content was identified by those attending previous seminars and included topics such as computer fraud and "the mind of a fraudster".
It is hoped to continue this hands-on approach to fraud awareness into 2003.
KPMG Forensic’s Fraud Barometer records increase
The total value of fraud cases for the six months to 30 June 2002 increased by two and a half times to £256 million compared to the previous six months according to the latest figures from KPMG Forensic’s Fraud Barometer.
Fraud Advisory Panel publishes annual report
The Fraud Advisory Panel warns that weak economic growth creates the climate for serious fraud, in its Annual Report published Tuesday 30 July 2002.
SFO publishes annual report
The work of the Serious Fraud Office during the last financial year is published in its Annual Report for presentation to Parliament by the Attorney General.
New FSA whistleblowing web pages
The FSA has added whistleblowing content to its website, aimed at firms who want to check out what the FSA is saying on whistleblowing or would like copies of the Information Sheet; and those working in the industry who want to know how to blow the whistle.
NHS Hot Line
Do you have suspicions of a fraud taking place within the National Health Service? Any genuine information you may have can be passed in confidence to the NHS Fraud & Corruption Reporting Hot Line: 08702 400 100 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Partners Against Crime
Partners Against Crime is an initiative between the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police, and forensic accountants and accredited private investigation firms. The scheme began on 1 April 2000 and will be reviewed after 24 months.
Under this scheme, fraud investigations in the Metropolitan and City of London police districts may be "subcontracted" to approved organisations - such as the forensic accounting departments of the big five accountancy firms. Accredited investigators will be firms approved as competent to investigate complex fraud cases, and will sign a contract with the police for each individual case they investigate.
Partners against Crime will address the difficulties of investigating corporate fraud in ways which are both timely and effective. The initiative will make a beneficial difference in a number of cases and in turn there will be a wider public benefit as the police will be able to move more cases more quickly.
ACPO National Working Group on Fraud
The working group's Chair, Detective Superintendent Ken Farrow (City of London Police) was elected in 1998. In the past two years the National Working Group has made a significant contribution in the following areas:
Drafting and updating Memoranda of Understanding between the police service and:
- The Credit Industry Fraud Advisory Scheme (CIFAS)
- The Law Society
- The Department of Trade and Industry
- The Benefits Agency / Department of Health and Social Security
Contributing to national fraud issues for police and government:
- The multi-agency working group: "Improving the Response to Fraud" (chaired by the Director of the Serious Fraud Office)
- Submitting proposals on fraud intelligence to the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS)
- A review of the provision of credit reference information to the police service
Continuing development of accreditation of the National Fraud Training Programme:
- Certificate, Diploma, and Master of Arts Degree in Fraud Management (through Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University)
- An ongoing review of the national fraud training programme for the police
Fraud prevention activities:
- Scottish Fraud Conference
- Fraud prevention stands at the Spring and Autumn Trade Fairs, NEC Birmingham
- CIFAS Annual General Meeting
- British Bankers’ Association - Fraud Managers’ Liaison Group
- Institute of Chartered Accountants - Fraud Advisory Panel
Organising the National Fraud Forum:
- A biennial conference for UK and overseas police fraud investigators
- Includes academics, representatives of government departments, members of the legal profession and commercial organisations
- Outcomes include defining the agenda for the National Working Group
Memoranda of Understanding
The Association of Chief Police Officers Crime Committee has agreed Memoranda of Understanding in relation to the reporting and investigation of fraud with the following organisations:
The NHS Counter-Fraud Operations Service - 31 January 2002
The Department of Trade and Industry - 30 October 2000
The Association of British Insurers - August 1999
The Serious Fraud Office - 4 November 1998
Further memoranda are being developed in conjunction with the Law Society; The Financial Services Authority; and the Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System.
City of London - Fraud Desk
The City of London Police launched Fraud Desk at the start of 1998. It is a telephone service to deal with fraud enquiries in the City of London. The telephone line is staffed between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday by a team of experienced Fraud Squad detectives. A voice mail facility exists outside these hours. The new system has streamlined the way incoming enquiries and cases are dealt with and has improved the immediate police response when a fraud is reported. Members of the public can ring the number to ask for advice, report a crime, or even discuss a suspicion that a crime is being carried out.
The City of London Police give video-based presentations using a training/presentation package called A Meeting of Minds, which was produced together with Ernst and Young and the USA's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). City companies and banks which would like a presentation should phone the Fraud Desk to enquire about arrangements.
Together with Coopers and Lybrand Forensic Accountancy, the City of London Police have produced Fraudstop. This is an anti-fraud business brochure giving advice on prevention, preserving evidence and helpful contact points.
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