Press Release

FLA TO FUND POLICE TRAINING TO COMBAT FRAUD

10 November 2006

The Fraud Bill having received Royal Assent, Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) has announced plans to fund training for police forces nationwide. This will enable officers to understand the implications and benefits of the Act and so ensure that they are well placed to prosecute fraudulent activity once the legislation takes effect in January 2007.

The training material, which has been prepared by the City of London Police in agreement with the Home Office, consists of CDs, posters and leaflets which carry the key changes to the law.

FLA’s work on financial crime

FLA takes prevention and investigation of financial crime very seriously, and has a track record of funding effective police work.

Our members fund the Vehicle Fraud Unit – part of the Metropolitan Police Service – which recovers fraudulently-obtained vehicles on finance. To date, the Unit has recovered cars worth over £9 million. In addition we sponsor the Port of Tilbury police force to enable them to devote extra resources to checking and recovering vehicles that were subject either to finance or to an insurance claim.

We take a leading role in the credit industry in initiating imaginative projects in this area, and we maintain a number of standing groups of members on financial crime-related issues. We are represented on the Home Office’s Identity Fraud Steering Committee and Identity Fraud Forum, on the Cross Sector Data Sharing Sub-group, and on the North West Fraud Forum.

Data sharing by public sector bodies

We have strongly supported proposals set out in the Home Office’s recent consultation for greater sharing of information on suspected fraudsters between public and private sectors. In our response we urged the Government to find ways to overcome any obstacles that stand in the way of greater data sharing.

Fraud Review

Separately, FLA has welcomed the Attorney General’s Fraud Review, calling for this to be considered as a starting point, not as a conclusion.

Martin Hall, Director General of FLA, said:

 “The Government seems at last to see fraud as the serious source of harm to society which it really is. They also see that this is a vital area for partnership with the private sector. Without a common approach the battle cannot be won. We are therefore delighted to finance the training materials to enable police officers to hit the ground running.

“The financial services sector already co-operates in many areas with Government. It is more than ready to commit its fair share of resources to the fight against financial crime, provided Government does the same. Moving forward together is an exciting challenge for both.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Wilmott, Head of the Economic Crime Unit, City of London Police, said:

“It would not be possible to carry out the work we do as designated lead force in economic crime investigation without the support of the private sector.  FLA’s sponsorship of training materials for police officers across the England and Wales is an invaluable contribution, helping to ensure effective enforcement of this new and eagerly awaited piece of legislation.”