Fraud investigators face trial at the University

Fraud investigators will be in the spotlight during a mock trial at the University.

Senior Investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions are currently completing a Foundation Degree in Fraud Management here.

As part of the foundation degree course a two-day exercise will see them deal with a fraud case scenario, culminating with a ‘trial’ in the mock courtroom in the Brittan Building.

Exact replica of a Teesside Combined Court The mock courtroom is an exact replica of one of the courtrooms at Teesside Combined Court. It can be set up for family, Crown or magistrates’ court hearings.

Before the mock trial the students will examine issues such as planning a fraud investigation, following it through to arrest and interview and gathering evidence. They will also focus on issues surrounding contempt law and dealing with the media both during and after the court hearing.

They will be also assigned roles during the mock trial, acting as investigators and members of the jury.

Press conference Following the outcome of the mock trial the investigators will take part in a mock press conference, with journalism students from the School of Arts & Media talking on the roles of reporters.

Norman Wise, Senior Lecturer in Fraud Management in the Business School, said: ‘It is a bold step and is something which hasn’t been done before as this is a new course which we have developed so that it has real relevance to the students’ work.

‘We wanted to teach across the board the management of a major investigation, while also looking at the issues of dealing with the media and public accountability.’

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