Fraud and economic crime | The Crown Prosecution Service

Economic Crime Strategy 2025

Our Economic Crime Strategy provides a high-level vision of where we want to be by 2025, helping to focus our work where it really matters. The strategy is supported by a commitment to ensure the right person is prosecuted for the right offence in a timely manner, that victims and witnesses are at the heart of our casework and that any proceeds of crime are recovered. It represents a clear articulation of the role that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will play in contributing to improving criminal justice outcomes in economic crime.

CPS warns - don't get caught by COVID fraud

The Crown Prosecution Service has warned the public to beware of fraudsters exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic after a man was today jailed for 30 weeks for offering fake Government refunds.

Duo jailed for a £2 million online banking fraud

Two men, who siphoned £2 million through fraudulent bank accounts, have today been jailed.

Update: CPS case redefines the legal test for ‘dishonesty’ in criminal law

A CPS case about a dishonest care home owner who defrauded wealthy residents of more than £4m has clarified the definition of dishonesty in criminal law.

David Barton was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court for 17 years following a year-long trial and appeal. The jury heard evidence of a sustained course of dishonesty in which Barton targeted wealthy residents at the care home he owned in Southport.

Former councillor sentenced for fraudulent expense claims

A former councillor in Cheshire has been sentenced for fraudulently claiming around £5,000 in expenses over five years.

Beware fraud and scams during COVID-19 pandemic

Criminals are using the Covid-19 pandemic to scam the public - don’t become a victim.

Couple sentenced for dog charity fraud

Two senior employees of a Birmingham dog charity have today been jailed after they pleaded guilty to stealing almost £900,000 from their employers.

Fraud and economic crime

Fraud is the act of gaining a dishonest advantage, often financial, over another person. It is now the most commonly experienced crime in England and Wales, with an estimated 3.4 million incidents in the year ending March 2017.

More than half of these were cyber-related and the number of fraud and forgery cases dealt with by the CPS has risen by almost a third since 2011.

Directors’ Guidance to accompany the Attorney General’s Guidelines on Plea Discussions in cases of Serious or Complex Fraud

Introduction
Basic principles
Criteria
Relationship to existing practices
Who can undertake plea discussions
Initiating plea discussions
Terms on which plea discussions will be conducted
Conducting plea discussions
The written agreement

Prosecuting Welfare and Health Fraud Cases

This guidance provides an overview of welfare and health fraud case-law and procedures and guidance for prosecutors when reviewing welfare and health fraud cases. Separate guidance applies to DEFRA and MHRA cases.

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