Fraud investigation policy

The City of London, is one of the most important financial centres in the world and the economic heart of the United Kingdom. Unlike most police forces, we have two distinct roles.

We protect the people, places and infrastructure of the City of London, preventing and investigating crime to ensure the City of London remains a safe and low crime area in which to live, work or visit.

We also have a role as the National Lead Force for Fraud. Tackling fraud is one of our Policing Plan priorities. Not only do we operate Report Fraud, a national service supporting England, Wales and Northen Ireland we also hold a national role supporting the investigation of cyber crime and fraud as well as investigating significant serious and complex fraud on behalf of policing nationally.

This policy takes into account both roles.  

Allegations of crime will be considered for investigation from the following routes:

• Report via a calls for service[1] to the City of London Police
• Report Fraud Analysis Service crime disseminations
• Referrals from other police forces or regional organised crime units
• Formal referral from a UK regulatory authority, national or international law enforcement partner

All allegations are assessed to identify if immediate action is required to safeguard vulnerable people or secure critical evidence. Consideration will also be given to the critical nature of the referral and critical incident procedures will be followed if appropriate.

All referrals will be fully assessed taking into account threat, harm, risk, viability and case acceptance criteria. A decision on whether or not to commence an investigation will be made within two weeks of receipt. For complex allegations that require more detailed assessment, this will be within six weeks.

If a case is not taken forward, we will inform the victim(s) and/ or referrer and provide a rationale for the decision.

Investigations will be conducted in line with the College of Policing Authorised Professional Investigative Practice. This includes use of the Fraud Investigation Model for all fraud cases. Victims will be updated and supported in line with the Victim Code of Practice.

Our aim is to conclude all complex investigations to a ‘file submission ready’ state within two years or otherwise expeditiously.

[1] A call for service is where police are required to attend to an incident and then record it on both their crime management system and Report Fraud. Police can refer victims to the Report Fraud service on all occasions apart from the following; whether the offenders are arrested by the police, there is a call for service to the police and the offender is committing or has recently committed at the time of the call for service, or the suspect is local.