The Government has laid a draft Fraud Bill before Parliament with proposals to strengthen and extend existing legislation to counter fraud.

Welcoming the move and publishing the NIO’s response to its consultation on the proposals, Criminal Justice Minister David Hanson said the rapid development of technology had made fraudulent crime "ever more sophisticated” and that it was vital that police and prosecutors have a modern legislative framework equipped to deal with it.

“Current laws to counter fraud focus on specific offences and do not adequately cover the wide variety of potential crimes,” Mr Hanson said. “The draft Bill introduces a new general offence of fraud which can be committed in three ways – by false representation, by wrongfully failing to disclose information and by abuse of position.

“These reforms should make the law more relevant and effective in tackling the wide range of fraudulent activity and should make the prosecution process simpler and more efficient for both juries and defendants.”

The Government’s response to the consultation, Mr Hanson said, reflects the widespread public support for the proposed draft legislation which covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Consultation on Fraud Law Reform was carried out in England, Wales and Northern Ireland simultaneously. Over 70 replies were received to the proposals set out in the Consultation Paper ‘Fraud Law Reform: Consultation on proposals for legislation,’ published on 17 May 2004.

(MB/SP)