Radical change needed to help police tackle fraud, says Met

FRAUDSTERS “operate with impunity” as police are not adequately equipped to investigate them, a report has revealed.

A rapidly increasing number of cases that are regularly handed to “unskilled investigators” are putting pressure on police forces, it concludes.

The review, led by Sir Craig Mackey, former deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said response to fraud needs “radical change” as officers “can no longer work effectively to identify criminals and help bring them to justice”.

Sir Craig wrote in his report: “Fraudsters currently operate with impunity and renewed commitments are needed in the police service to take the fight back to them.”

He said the growth in fraud was so serious that it should be seen as a “national threat”.

High staff turnover, absenteeism, delays in dealing with cases and poor police computer systems were among the shortcomings cited in the report.

It also found that victims are waiting too long for their calls to be taken and staff cannot cope with the volume they receive.

Action Fraud is part of the City of London Police and based in the Square Mile, though it collaborates with regional police forces to solve local cases.

Its call centre and computer systems have been outsourced to private companies.

If call handlers deem cases to be crimes, they are passed to reviewers at the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, who decide which should be sent on to police forces for investigation.