Fraud and the Justice System

Justice Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 2 Dec 2021 Closed: 14 Sep 2023 Parliament page
This short inquiry sought to examine the ability of the Justice System to effectively prosecute fraud cases. The Committee was particularly interested in how the system is set up to tackle lower-level frauds, that are often not serious enough to be considered by the Serious Fraud Office but have a … Read more
20 Recommendations
23 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 11 events
9 May
2023
Correspondence
11 Jan
2023
Report published
7 Dec
2022
Correspondence
23 Nov
2022
Correspondence
18 Oct
2022
Report published
17 May
2022
Correspondence
10 May
2022
Correspondence
20 Apr
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
22 Mar
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
15 Mar
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 15, Palace of Westminster
22 Feb
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Fraud and the Justice System HC 12 18 Oct 2022 43 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
Clear
26 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Fraud and the Just…
Pilot establishment of dedicated economic crime courts in collaboration with the Judiciary.
The Government should work with the Judiciary to pilot the establishment of economic crime courts. If the pilots are successful, these types of court should be established around the country to reflect the geographic diversity in the crimes being perpetrated. Read more
Government Response
The government rejects piloting economic crime courts nationally due to capacity concerns but highlights the planned City of London Law courts, opening in 2026, which are expected to focus on high-level fraud, cyber, and economic crime.
Ministry of Justice
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38 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Fraud and the Just…
A 'failure to prevent fraud' offence could hold companies accountable for platform fraud.
A failure to prevent fraud offence should be introduced to hold companies to account for fraud occurring on their systems and encourage better corporate behaviours.
Government Response
The government is actively considering the Law Commission's review on corporate criminal liability, including the creation of a failure to prevent fraud offence. Separately, the Online Safety Bill will introduce a duty for social media and search engine companies to implement systems to prevent fraud on their platforms.
Ministry of Justice
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39 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Fraud and the Just…
Concern exists regarding perceived GDPR restrictions on data sharing for fraud prevention.
We are concerned to hear that there is a perception that legislation such as GDPR is preventing the sharing of information and intelligence across sectors where frauds were suspected. Data-sharing laws should not restrict the sharing of information for law … Read more
Government Response
The government is taking steps to support information sharing for economic crime prevention through the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, which will provide greater assurance for sharing under GDPR, and the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, which will enable easier sharing by disapplying civil liability. It continues to consider the SAO regime.
Ministry of Justice
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40 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Fourth Report - Fraud and the Just…
Provide update and proposals to broaden data sharing for effective fraud combatting.
The Government should provide an update of its review of the legislation in respect of the sharing of data with a Specified Anti-Fraud Organisation. The Government should also look more broadly at the operation of data-sharing legislation with regard to … Read more
Government Response
The government is supporting data sharing for economic crime prevention through the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill and the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, which aim to ease information sharing and disapply civil liability. It continues to consider next steps for the Specified Anti-Fraud Organisation regime.
Ministry of Justice
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Government Response AI assessment · 43 of 20 classified
Accepted 15
Accepted in Part 4
Acknowledged 6
Deferred 17
Not Addressed 1
Total 20 recs + 23 conclusions
Correspondence 5 letters
9 May 2023 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MBE VR MP, Security Minister, dated 3 May 2023, on the publication of the Government’s Fraud Strategy
Parliament page
7 Dec 2022 From committee Letter to the Chairman of the Sentencing Council, dated 30 November 2022, on the Committee's report on Fraud and the Justice System
Parliament page
23 Nov 2022 To committee Letter from the Sentencing Council, dated 14 November 2022, on the Committe's report on Fraud and the Justice System
Parliament page
17 May 2022 To committee Letter from Damian Hinds MP, Minister for Security and Borders, dated 10 May 2022, on oral evidence follow up
Parliament page
10 May 2022 From committee Letter to Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP, Minister for Security and Borders, dated 28 April 2022, following oral evidence on fraud inquiry
Parliament page