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 fiftty 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.

Michael J Betts, Head of Training Delivery, Economic Crime Academy, City of London Police

Michael J Betts is an experienced and highly regarded officer with the City of London Police, who has developed a unique understanding of Fraud and Bribery gained from undertaking both complex investigations and training delivery in this specialist area. With over 15 years serving as an operational detective and 8 years as a specialist fraud trainer, he is currently the head of training delivery at the City of London's Police Economic Crime Academy. Mike has designed and delivered the National Investigation of Bribery and Fraud training programmes for various counter fraud agencies, both nationally and internationally, and he has a Middlesex University Master's Degree which focussed on the threat and prevention of bribery.

Detective Chief Superintendent David Clark, Head of Economic Crime Directorate, has served in the City of London Police for 20 years. A career detective who has extensive experience in leading Local, National and International protracted and complex criminal investigations, he has a Cambridge University Master's Degree in Applied Criminology and Police Management; and currently chairs the National Policing Economic Crime Portfolio Pursue Working Group.