Investigation of Fraud and Economic Crime

Fraud costs the United Kingdom a reported L198 billion per year and the Crime Survey for England and Wales (March 2016) estimates that there are over 5 million incidents of fraud and 2 million cyber-related crimes committed annually. Preventing and investigating fraud has become a priority for police officers and establishing successful, effective strategies to tackle this new volume crime represents a significant and persistent challenge for the police service. Investigation of Fraud and Economic Crime is written by experts from, and affiliated to, the City of London Police, the lead force for fraud in the UK and home to Action Fraud and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB). It offers practical, straightforward advice to law enforcement agencies dealing with fraud and economic crimes. The book identifies more than fifty different types of fraud and sets out the different strategic and tactical considerations in preventing, investigating, and disrupting each one. At the centre of the book is the Fraud Investigation Model (FIM), an effective framework encompassing multiagency working, recovery of evidence and victim management, as well as a range of useful features designed to demystify fraud terminology and provide accessible operational guidance. These include key point boxes, highlighting important learning points and investigation best practice; definition boxes, to cut through legal terminology and connect the law to everyday police work; and flow charts, which tackle complex operational and legal procedures and break them down into simple, easy to follow steps. Contributors to this volume - Andrew Fyfe, Head of Crime, National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, City of London Police Ian Sales, Economic Crime Academy, City of London Police Kerrie Gower, Head of the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), City of London Police Michael Dodge, Deputy Head of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit, City of London Police Nick Court, Economic Crime Academy, City of London Police Nigel Howard, Economic Crime Directorate Lead for Disclosure, City of London Police Oliver Little, Head of Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), City of London Police Russell Wate QPM, former Detective Chief Superintendent, Cambridgeshire Constabulary David Manley, Head of Fraud and Financial Investigation, City of London Police John Unsworth, former Head of the Economic and Cyber Crime Prevention Centre (ECPC), City of London Police