Unclear digital fraud guidelines
Lack of clear guidelines for applying disclosure rules in digital fraud cases, leading to inefficient use of police and prosecution time.
66 items
4 sources
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
95match
#27 - Application of disclosure rules is problematic in digital fraud cases, requiring clearer guidelines.
Our inquiry heard of problems with the application of disclosure rules which can result in significant amounts of police and prosecution time being spent redacting and disclosing vast amounts of material that turns out to be unnecessary to the case eventually pursued. We are not convinced that the underlying disclosure legislation is the problem but rather there needs...
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terms: digital, fraud, guideline
Committee recommendation
85match
#28 - Review current disclosure guidelines to introduce specific guidance for digital fraud cases.
The Attorney General should review the current disclosure guidelines and consider whether there is merit in introducing specific guidance on disclosure in fraud cases with large quantities of digital material.
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terms: digital, fraud, guideline
Committee recommendation
78match
#17 - Forty-Third Report - Progress combatting fraud
In October 2022, our sister Committee published its report, Fraud and the Justice System. This examined in depth how the criminal justice system is set up to tackle fraud. It concluded that a wholesale change in philosophy and practice was needed which was more aggressive in investigation, prosecution and conviction, and much more focused on the impact of...
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terms: fraud, guideline
Committee recommendation
65match
#21 - Forty-Third Report - Progress combatting fraud
Fraud is a global issue and criminals are increasingly using the internet to target victims from anywhere in the world. In the year to June 2022, 80% of frauds in England and Wales were enabled through computer technology, and the NCA estimates that around 70% of frauds have an international element. The NCA told us that this international...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
65match
#11 - Widespread bogus company registrations for fraud demand attention; new Companies House powers may improve protection.
HMRC highlighted a more widespread problem with bogus registrations, where companies hijack taxpayers’ identities in an attempt to defraud HMRC.35 We have received written evidence on the time it takes for HMRC to resolve these cases and the distress this causes to those concerned.36 HMRC told us that Companies House has recently acquired new powers that will allow...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
65match
#10 - Implement immediate steps to improve fraud reporting mechanisms and case progression for victims.
Individual police forces do not have the capacity to manage the volume of fraud reports made and so it is vital that there is an effective reporting service that is victim-focused and can deal consistently with reports and progress cases swiftly to a resolution, all while keeping the victim updated on the actions being taken. Action Fraud has...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
61match
#20 - Forty-Third Report - Progress combatting fraud
The Department acknowledged that its voluntary approach to working with industry had caused inconsistencies for victims and explained that it was beginning to introduce some mandatory measures. For example, it told us that only about 50% of victims of authorised push payment fraud are reimbursed by their banks because reimbursement was on a voluntary basis.41 In May 2022,...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
61match
#19 - Department identified two potential fraud incidents totaling £2.2 million in COVID-19 loans
As at December 2024, the Department had identified two possible incidents of fraud among its borrowers, relating to loans valued at £2.2 million.47 It told us that it considered the level of fraud in its COVID–19 loans to be relatively low, compared to other COVID–19 schemes, but that it was in no way complacent about, and was very...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
57match
#49 - Ensure forthcoming Fraud Strategy includes specific measures tackling chargeback scams and friendly fraud.
The Government should ensure that the forthcoming Fraud Strategy contains specific measures on tackling chargeback scams and friendly fraud in order to help SMEs in fighting this phenomenon. (Recommendation, Paragraph 172) High street regeneration
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
57match
#1 - Epidemic of fraud is increasing, accelerating during pandemic, with no reversal in sight.
There is currently an epidemic of fraud in England and Wales. The level of fraud has been increasing year on year and this growth accelerated during the pandemic to an unprecedented level. As the country emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic, there are no signs of a reversal in the upward trend.
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
57match
#22 - Forty-Third Report - Progress combatting fraud
City of London Police acknowledged that having the mechanisms to work internationally is important to allow the government to work proactively to tackle fraud. However, the NCA was admitted that government “really do have a lot more to do” when it comes to building relationships with international partners.46 Government has done some work with individual countries, for example,...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
57match
#8 - High levels of unrecovered fraud and error found in first wave business grants.
The Department estimated fraud and error levels of £985 million were contained in the £11.7 billion grant funding provided for the first wave of business support grant schemes (Small Business Grant Fund; Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund; and Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund). The estimated fraud and error in these three schemes is significantly higher than the...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
56match
#9 - Delayed recovery of fraud and error in business grants risking further losses.
Of the £985 million estimate of fraud and error for the first wave of business support grant schemes, the Department has recovered £5.3 million through NATIS and local authorities.16 This represents 0.7% of the fraud and error estimate. The Department explained that it will further refine the fraud and error estimates for the second and third wave of...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
56match
#13 - Planned Action Fraud replacement focuses on technology, neglecting victim experience improvements.
We welcome the Government’s plans to replace Action Fraud with a new service in 2024; however, we understand from the Government’s evidence to our inquiry that the planned changes are focused on the technology underpinning the service, primarily improving the analytical tools applied when a crime is reported rather than improving customer experience. While this is an important...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
53match
#12 - Frequent border policy changes cause disruption, requiring realistic and stable timelines
Frequent border policy changes over recent years have created disruption, uncertainty and financial pressure for port health and local authorities. Stakeholders are clear that another shift in border regimes will only be manageable if timelines are realistic, communicated early, and not subject to repeated revisions or delays. (Conclusion, Paragraph 41) 35
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Committee recommendation
52match
#2 - Fraud enforcement and prosecution must adapt to new online technologies.
As the ways in which frauds are being perpetrated change, making increased use of the online sphere and new technologies, the enforcement and prosecution of these crimes also needs to adapt to keep pace with the crimes being conducted.
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
49match
#13 - Provide and publish a clear, realistic transition timetable for common SPS area
The Government should provide a clear, realistic transition timetable for moving to a common SPS area, published with key milestones at least 12–24 months in advance. This must not be subject to repeated changes, and implementation plans should be developed with businesses, industry, port health and local authorities. (Recommendation, Paragraph 42)
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Committee recommendation
49match
#5 - Provide clear roadmap and guidance for the remaining phases of Awaab's Law.
Even though social landlords have been anticipating the introduction of Awaab’s Law for some time, the way the Government managed the introduction of Phase 1 unnecessarily added to the uncertainty and complexity providers had to grapple with to ensure they were ready to comply. We are disappointed that the final guidance on Awaab’s Law was published so close...
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Committee recommendation
48match
#48 - Chargeback scams pose a significant and growing threat to SME viability.
Chargeback scams represent a major and growing threat to SME viability. The Government must improve protections against friendly fraud as a central part of its approach to supporting and protecting small businesses. (Conclusion, Paragraph 171)
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
48match
#14 - Action Fraud's successor must prioritise victim experience with trained support staff.
While we welcome the Government’s commitment to replace Action Fraud with a new service better able to record and disseminate information about a crime, the service also needs to focus on victim experience, ensuring there are trained individuals staffing Action Fraud’s successor who can assess the needs and vulnerabilities of victims and direct them to appropriate resources.
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
48match
#20 - Lack of data hinders assessment of significant Housing Benefit fraud in supported housing
The problem of fraud is going largely unaddressed in supported housing. The NAO investigation found that DLUHC and DWP do not know how much fraud is made possible by gaps in oversight and regulation of supported housing. DWP has calculated that £540 million of Housing Benefit claims in Great Britain in 2021–22 were fraudulent. However, it cannot assess...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
47match
#84 - Accelerate the timetable for the Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences.
We urge the Home Office to accelerate the timetable for the Independent Review of Disclosure and Fraud Offences. (Paragraph 214) 70 Policing priorities
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terms: fraud
PFD report
45match
Douglas Hodges
The absence of a system to communicate clinical urgency for prescriptions between prescribers and community pharmacies on the NHS Spine creates a significant risk for patients.
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Committee recommendation
45match
#16 - No clear explanation received for addressing internal market issues from Precision Breeding Act
The Committee did not receive a clear or satisfactory explanation of how the Government intends to address UK internal market issues created by the England only Precision Breeding Act. (Conclusion, Paragraph 51)
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Committee recommendation
45match
#6 - Urgently publish timeline for extending Awaab's Law to all hazards by March 2026.
The Government must urgently set and publish the timeline for extending Awaab’s Law to all remaining hazards, so that tenants and social landlords have clarity about when they can expect these new regulations to apply. This should be produced no later than 1st March 2026 to enable social housing providers to factor the relevant costs into their budgets...
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Committee recommendation
44match
#26 - Eleventh Report - Economic Crime
We recommend that the Government urgently legislates to give the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) powers to make reimbursement mandatory, and that the PSR then take rapid action to protect consumers. We recommend that the PSR and Treasury accelerate their consultation processes to enable quicker implementation of measures to protect consumers from fraud.
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
44match
#23 - Eleventh Report - Economic Crime
The Government should build on these foundations when it updates the Economic Crime Plan. But it should also ensure that regulators and law enforcement agencies have the powers they need to ensure that online companies provide them with information and comply with regulatory requirements. (Paragraph 105) Authorised push payment fraud
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
44match
#21 - High energy costs exacerbate severe impacts of billing issues, leading to overdue back bills.
Energy bills are generally becoming more accurate, but the high cost of energy means that when billing issues do occur, the impacts are felt far more severely. In an era of smart metering, it is unacceptable that back bills are being issued more than a year after energy was used, often in breach of Ofgem’s rules. This can...
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Committee recommendation
44match
#30 - Require Government to detail rural proofing, funding, transport, and digital health access plans.
We recommend that: a) the Government set out how rural proofing has been applied to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill; and work with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to rural proof the Levelling-Up metrics to ensure progress in rural areas is measured effectively b) DEFRA and HM Treasury set out the geographical distribution of projected funding for...
Matched on
terms: digital
Committee recommendation
44match
#23 - DWP is taking steps to help local authorities challenge fraudulent Housing Benefit claims
DWP told us that it is working closely with DLUHC to help all local authorities to act on fraud. In addition, it set out how the Bill will provide opportunities for local authorities to challenge fraudulent claims by giving more clarity on quality standards and a definition of “care, support and supervision”, which will be linked to Housing...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
44match
#22 - DWP's current Housing Benefit fraud checks remain too limited at local level
DWP does some limited checks for fraud at a local level. It noted that it samples just 60 housing benefit claims per local authority for fraud and that supported housing benefit claims will only be a small portion of this sample.44 Some local authorities in the Supported Housing Improvement Programme pilots have seen improvement in challenging fraudulent Housing...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
43match
#4 - Mandate the Ministerial taskforce to explicitly review misleading and fraudulent NFT and cryptoasset advertising.
We welcome the Government’s recently articulated intention to introduce statutory regulation for online advertising, in line with our conclusions and recommendations from our “Influencer culture” inquiry last year. We recommend that the Government respond to the evidence we have gathered on misleading and/or fraudulent advertising for NFTs. It should ensure that any regime compels the entirety of the...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
43match
#16 - Preventing fraud should be paramount, alongside maximising asset recovery for victims.
We are wary of placing too great an emphasis on the compensation of victims. We do not want to give criminals carte blanche to commit their crimes just because victims can be reimbursed, since their crimes will continue to have a significant financial impact on the UK economy, as well as millions of banking customers, even if these...
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
41match
#1 - Clarify inclusion of on-farm animal welfare and labelling in EU SPS negotiations
The Government must urgently clarify whether on-farm animal welfare and labelling will be included in negotiations with the EU of an SPS agreement so it can properly develop any future legislative changes, prepare industry for reforms and so those changes can be properly scrutinised. (Conclusion, Paragraph 15)
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Committee recommendation
40match
#9 - 7th Report - Transnational repression in the UK
The Home Office and relevant enforcement bodies should develop clear guidance on how FIRS data can be used to support investigations into TNR, and regular reviews should be conducted to assess the scheme’s effectiveness in this regard. (Recommendation, Paragraph 34)
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Committee recommendation
40match
#33 - Exploitative practices rampant in non-domestic energy market, targeting resource-poor business owners.
We are greatly concerned by exploitative practices in the non-domestic energy market, especially instances of mis-selling and pressure selling, as well as excessive deposits and out-of-contract rates. These practices exploit resource-poor business owners who often lack the time and knowledge to procure a good energy deal. (Conclusion, Paragraph 116)
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Committee recommendation
36match
#7 - Complex financial structures obscure water company finances and enable bad practices
Complex financial structures are not necessarily a problem, but they can obscure water company finances, enable bad practices, undermine transparency and worsen the public perception of water companies. Water companies increasingly look like financial institutions rather than businesses servicing monopolised critical infrastructure. These structures have undoubtedly been used, in some circumstances, to increase debt, given they are outside...
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Committee recommendation
36match
#23 - Smart meter rollout remains sluggish, unreliable, and fails to achieve adequate GB coverage.
The smart meter rollout has been sluggish, unreliable and has failed to achieve adequate coverage across Great Britain. Poor levels of reliability mean that many consumers are unable to benefit from more accurate billing, which has increased the occurrence of billing issues. It also limits access to flexible tariffs and the ability to sell energy back to the...
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Committee recommendation
36match
#22 - Limit smart meter back-billing period to six months and publish supplier penalty data for breaches.
Ofgem should limit the back billing period to six months for customers with a smart meter. It should also publish annual data on the penalties it gives energy suppliers for breaching its back billing rules. (Recommendation, Paragraph 79)
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Committee recommendation
32match
#34 - Introduce caps on business energy out-of-contract rates, deposits, and a 14-day cooling-off period.
We recommend that Ofgem introduce a cap on out-of-contract rates and deposits that can be charged by suppliers to agree or renew business energy contracts. It should also introduce a mandatory 14-day cooling off period following a business energy bill first being issued by a supplier, where a business can exit an energy contract without penalty. (Recommendation, Paragraph...
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Committee recommendation
31match
#40 - Immediately set out the timeline for regulating Third-Party Intermediaries in the retail energy market.
The Government should immediately set out its timeline for regulating Third-Party Intermediaries in the retail energy market. (Recommendation, Paragraph 144) 75 The costs of crime
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NAO recommendation
30match
Energy bills support: an update
DESNZ should review its approach to preventing fraud and error on the schemes to identify good practice and any areas for improvement to share with other parts of government.
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terms: fraud
Committee recommendation
27match
#41 - Support business security investments to help high street firms protect themselves from crime.
Businesses now confront both rising crime and the increasing costs of implementing crime prevention measures. Government should do more to help businesses protect themselves on the high street. Security investments should be supported not penalised. (Conclusion, Paragraph 149)
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Committee recommendation
27match
#15 - Introduce legislative changes to allow flexible compensation order value adjustments for victims.
The Government should introduce changes to compensation order legislation to allow for flexibility in altering the order value if a criminal is later found to have assets of greater value which can be used to compensate victims of their crimes. This would bring practice into line with that already in place for the amendment of confiscation orders to...
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Committee recommendation
26match
#10 - BBC has a critical role in educating older, less tech-confident audiences on new technology.
We raised the question of education for people, typically older people, who are not familiar or confident with adopting what may be new technology to them. The BBC stressed its universality obligation to ensure that content is accessible. It also said it was critical that there was focus and prioritisation of its limited resources to ensure it continued...
Matched on
terms: digital
LGO / SPSO decision
22match
25-005-015 - London Borough of Ealing
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council issuing her a Fixed Penalty Notice for fly tipping. This is because Ms X can raise a defence against the issuing of the notice in court if she believes it was incorrectly issued and decides not to pay it.
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LGO / SPSO decision
22match
25-009-127 - London Borough of Brent
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a penalty charge notice. This is because it would be reasonable for Mr X to apply to the court to take the process back to an earlier stage.
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LGO / SPSO decision
22match
25-008-235 - Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council sending correspondence about two penalty charge notices to the wrong address. This is because it would be reasonable for Miss X to apply to the Traffic Enforcement Centre to take the process back to an earlier stage.
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LGO / SPSO decision
22match
25-007-818 - London Borough of Ealing
Summary: We will not investigate Mr X’s complaint about the Council issuing him a Fixed Penalty Notice for alleged fly tipping. This is because Mr X could have used his right to raise a defence against the issuing of the notice in court if he considers there was fault in its issue.
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LGO / SPSO decision
22match
25-010-126 - Westminster City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about a penalty charge notice. This is because the Council has now cancelled the penalty charge notice, and it is unlikely investigation would achieve anything more for Mr X.
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