Fraud Squad

A Fraud Squad is a police department which investigates fraud and other economic crimes. The largest Fraud Squad in the United Kingdom is run by the City of London Police who are responsible for policing London's and the UK's main financial hub.

This department investigates what could be described as the "traditional" fraud offences, such as banking frauds; insurance frauds; investment frauds; insider dealing frauds; advance fee frauds and Internet frauds, amongst others.

Each team is headed by a Detective Inspector who take it in turn on a weekly basis to act as the "Duty Squad" and they form the immediate response to any calls received concerning new fraud cases.

The Fraud Squad is a specialist area, usually a part of the Specialist Investigation Department, where officers are normally transferred from general detective duties with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Some officers will nominated to work on specific cases for the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), they will also provide assistance and advice on policing matters to the SFO and Financial Services Authority.

The City of London Police has recruited accountancy specialists directly into its Special Constabulary, and these officers primary duties are assisting in complex fraud investigations.

The Fraud Squad is part of the City of London Police Economic Crime Department (ECD) which also consists of:

The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) also maintains a sizeable Fraud squad within its CID. This squad investigates serious fraud and corruption offences against the Ministry of Defence.

Because of the scale of the MoD's annual budget any small percentage lost to criminal activity (theft/deception) has the potential to be a considerable sum.

Fraud committed against the MoD means that UK frontline defences are deprived of resources which place them and the UK and its interests at risk (the defence capability of the UK is weakened and lives may be put at risk as a consequence).

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