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Abstract

In 2006 the Fraud Advisory Panel (2006) produced a report that was highly critical of the policing response to fraud. Despite the implementation of several of the recommendations made in the report, ten years later the Fraud Advisory Panel (2016) found that in many of the main problem areas identified by the 2006 review, progress had been modest, patchy and in some areas non-existent. Following the publication of this report several other reports such as by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services [HMICFRS] (2019) were equally critical of the policing response to fraud, finding that the overall response to fraud by law enforcement has remained poor with no national strategy in place, unacceptably wide variations in the quality of case handling, continuing issues with partnership working, a lack of capability and capacity, with resources being diverted away from fraud to other higher priority areas.

 

By performing a literature review which informed semi-structured interviews conducted with serving mid-ranking police officers who have responsibilities for their police force’s response to fraud, this paper aims to establish why, despite repeated studies and reports over the past two decades the policing response to fraud in the UK remains poor. The study found that a 20th century policing model has impeded the implementation of several of the recommendations set out by various studies and has prevented police forces from adapting to the demands of a 21st century crime type that uses new technologies to operate cross border and outside the geographical jurisdictions of police constabularies. This paper concludes by discussing the benefits of the establishment of a national body responsible for the operational response to fraud in the UK but concedes that without greater prioritisation from national government the implementation of such a body is unlikely to take place.

Course: Criminal Justice - MSc - C2681F

Date Deposited: 2023-05-11

URI/permalink: https://www.library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis14144.html