New initiative to fight fraud

The head of the City of London’s Economic Crime Department will be among several high profile speakers at a conference to launch the University’s new Centre for the Investigation of Fraud.

The Teesside Business School Centre for Fraud and Financial Crime will educate police officers, specialists from other investigative agencies and workers from private businesses in how to prevent and detect even the most sophisticated of crimes.

It will be officially opened on July 17 by Judge Leslie Spittle. Also attending the launch as one of the speakers will be Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Wilmott, of City of London Police. He has responsibility for the Economic Crime Department (ECD) which includes the Financial Investigation and Cheque and Credit Card Units.

Other keynote speakers at the launch are Solicitor General and Redcar MP Vera Baird QC, academic Rob McClusker and barrister Eoin O’Shea.

Fred Hutchinson, Director of the Centre, says, ‘This new centre builds on the significant reputation that we have already established in the field.

‘Fraud is becoming a big concern because of its links with organised crime and suggestions that it is being used to finance terrorism.’

The University originally established its reputation through the work of Professor Alan Doig, who recently retired having run the Fraud Studies Unit and advising governments and law enforcement agencies across the world.

The new Centre will develop that work and its successful MA Fraud Management course, which includes accreditation for the National Fraud Training programme delivered by three UK police forces, along with a similar programme for civilian fraud investigation officers from banks, other large companies and agencies investigating crimes including benefit fraud.

The Centre is developing courses in partnership with the National Police Improvement Agency to support work in financial investigation, the Department for Work and Pensions and CIPAS, the UK’s only not for profit membership associated dedicated to prevention of fraud and financial crime.

Mr Hutchinson said: ‘The nature of the organisations working with us indicates that we are at the forefront in this field. We see this work as particularly important as there is increasing emphasis being placed on partnerships between the public and private sectors in dealing with financial crime. Many organisations want to improve the status of their work in fraud management - effective education and research can support them in their objectives.’

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