17/05/2004
Proposals to tighten up anti-fraud laws unveiled
An overhaul of the fraud laws, which the government hopes will simplify them to better equip police and prosecutors to deal with modern crimes, has been proposed today.
The government has said that the reform was necessary as current laws focus on specific frauds and do not adequately tackle the wide range of possible fraudulent activity or keep pace with rapidly developing technology.
Fraud currently costs the UK economy around £14 billion a year.
Today, Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland launched a consultation paper which proposes a general offence of fraud which could be committed in three ways: by false representation; by wrongfully failing to disclose information' and by abuse of position.
Baroness Scotland said: "Modern criminals are also increasingly sophisticated and use technology to commit frauds. For example, buying services over the internet could be subject to fraud because of a deficiency in the current law.
"Our proposals respond to these challenges. We are aiming to create laws which are responsive to the society we live in and are effective so they build victims' confidence that the criminal justice system is on their side. Our proposals would overhaul the law to simplify it, cast its net wider and make it easier to secure just convictions."
Baroness Scotland called on members of the public, law enforcers, legal practitioners and businesses to consider and respond to the proposals.
Other anti-fraud proposals taken forward by the government include giving the Serious Fraud Office and City of London Police extra money to tackle the crime; and supporting financial institutions and the retail industry with their introduction of the chip-and-PIN system for plastic cards.
(gmcg)
The government has said that the reform was necessary as current laws focus on specific frauds and do not adequately tackle the wide range of possible fraudulent activity or keep pace with rapidly developing technology.
Fraud currently costs the UK economy around £14 billion a year.
Today, Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland launched a consultation paper which proposes a general offence of fraud which could be committed in three ways: by false representation; by wrongfully failing to disclose information' and by abuse of position.
Baroness Scotland said: "Modern criminals are also increasingly sophisticated and use technology to commit frauds. For example, buying services over the internet could be subject to fraud because of a deficiency in the current law.
"Our proposals respond to these challenges. We are aiming to create laws which are responsive to the society we live in and are effective so they build victims' confidence that the criminal justice system is on their side. Our proposals would overhaul the law to simplify it, cast its net wider and make it easier to secure just convictions."
Baroness Scotland called on members of the public, law enforcers, legal practitioners and businesses to consider and respond to the proposals.
Other anti-fraud proposals taken forward by the government include giving the Serious Fraud Office and City of London Police extra money to tackle the crime; and supporting financial institutions and the retail industry with their introduction of the chip-and-PIN system for plastic cards.
(gmcg)
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09 July 2012
Miliband Calls For Banking 'Code Of Conduct'
Following the recent scandals within the industry, Labour leader Ed Miliband has called for a code of conduct to be set up for bankers. He argued that those guilty of wrongdoing should be "struck off", as happens to doctors and lawyers. Mr Miliband told an audience of financiers it was time to move from "casino" to "stewardship" banking.
Miliband Calls For Banking 'Code Of Conduct'
Following the recent scandals within the industry, Labour leader Ed Miliband has called for a code of conduct to be set up for bankers. He argued that those guilty of wrongdoing should be "struck off", as happens to doctors and lawyers. Mr Miliband told an audience of financiers it was time to move from "casino" to "stewardship" banking.
17 December 2013
Canoe Death Fake Arrested Over Breach Of Licence
A man jailed for faking his own death in an insurance fraud scheme has been arrested for breaching the terms of his releases. 63-year-old John Darwin was jailed for six years in 2008 after he was convicted of faking his own death in a canoe accident. In 2011, after serving half of his sentence, Darwin was released on licence.
Canoe Death Fake Arrested Over Breach Of Licence
A man jailed for faking his own death in an insurance fraud scheme has been arrested for breaching the terms of his releases. 63-year-old John Darwin was jailed for six years in 2008 after he was convicted of faking his own death in a canoe accident. In 2011, after serving half of his sentence, Darwin was released on licence.
06 June 2013
ATM Card Thefts Rise Significantly
New figures from Financial Fraud Action UK reveal that the number of attempts to steal bankcards and Pin numbers has tripled in the last three years.
ATM Card Thefts Rise Significantly
New figures from Financial Fraud Action UK reveal that the number of attempts to steal bankcards and Pin numbers has tripled in the last three years.
26 February 2013
Warning Issued Over 'Money Mule' Job Offers
Hundreds of thousands of people are in danger of being duped into laundering money for fraudsters, experts have warned. Recruited as unwitting "money mules", people could be allowing their own bank accounts to be used to disguise the proceeds of crime.
Warning Issued Over 'Money Mule' Job Offers
Hundreds of thousands of people are in danger of being duped into laundering money for fraudsters, experts have warned. Recruited as unwitting "money mules", people could be allowing their own bank accounts to be used to disguise the proceeds of crime.
07 March 2012
11 Year Low For Card Fraud
Money lost due to credit and debit card fraud has reached an 11-year low, falling to £341m last year, a drop of 7%. The drop has been attributed to a 41% fall in fraudsters impersonating people to obtain or use credit cards and a 24% drop in fraud committed by cloned credit cards.
11 Year Low For Card Fraud
Money lost due to credit and debit card fraud has reached an 11-year low, falling to £341m last year, a drop of 7%. The drop has been attributed to a 41% fall in fraudsters impersonating people to obtain or use credit cards and a 24% drop in fraud committed by cloned credit cards.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.