Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Crown Prosecution Service: Fraud Cases

Thursday 4 February 2021 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • CPS prosecuted over 10,000 defendants for fraud and forgery in 2019-20.
  • CPS prioritizes prosecution of fraud cases related to the covid pandemic.
  • CPS successfully seized over 100 million through confiscation orders in 2019-20.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Daniel Kawczynski Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP is concerned about the effectiveness of the CPS in addressing fraud cases.

Question

What recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Crown Prosecution Service in tackling fraud cases?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The CPS continues to work with the police and other investigators to prosecute criminal cases involving fraud. In 2019-20, the CPS prosecuted more than 10,000 defendants where fraud and forgery were the principal offence. It also has a dedicated specialist fraud division.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a recent assessment or evaluation of effectiveness specifically.

How: Work With Police, No Specific Timeline

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Q2 Nicola Richards
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP is concerned about the rise in fraudulent activities during the pandemic, including text messages and door-to-door schemes.

Question

Constituents in West Bromwich East have made me aware of some of the latest scams that criminals are using to exploit the public at this difficult time. Can my right hon. and learned Friend update us on any discussions she has had with the CPS about these specific types of fraud cases?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The Director of Public Prosecutions has made it clear in his interim charging protocol that offences related to covid, including fraud, will be prioritised and that the offenders will be prosecuted. The joint inspectorate report commended the CPS's response to the pandemic.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide an update on specific discussions with CPS about pandemic-related scams.

How: Referencing Protocol, Commending General Response

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Q3 Jacob Young
Crime & Law Enforcement NHS
Context

The MP is concerned about fraudsters exploiting elderly individuals during the pandemic.

Question

Those who use this pandemic to exploit vulnerable people really are the lowest of the low. In Redcar and Cleveland, we have had a number of examples of fraudsters trying to trick elderly people in particular with fake vaccines and scam NHS emails. What more can the Government do to crack down on those types of criminals?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The Government are committed to stopping criminals benefiting from their ill-gotten gains. In 2019-20, the CPS successfully used its specialist prosecutors to seize more than £100 million through confiscation orders across all offence types.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific actions against fraud targeting vulnerable populations.

How: Referencing Seizure Of Funds

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Q4 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
Crime & Law Enforcement NHS
Context

The MP is concerned about various types of scams during the pandemic, including HMRC impersonation and vaccine fraud.

Question

Over the pandemic, we have seen scammers claiming to be from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, Royal Mail delivery scams, NatWest urging scam warnings out to its customers and an NHS vaccine scam. Could my right hon. and learned Friend outline how the CPS is working in partnership with those organisations to tackle fraud?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The Government have invested in the National Economic Crime Centre, which is leading a multi-agency response to tackle serious and organised fraud during the pandemic. The CPS continues to play a key role in this effort, providing early investigative support in serious fraud cases.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details on partnership efforts with mentioned organizations.

How: Referencing Multi-Agency Response

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Q5 Daniel Kawczynski Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The MP wishes the Attorney General well and asks for continued updates on the CPS's success in prosecuting fraud.

Question

I, too, would like to join the Chairman of the Select Committee in wishing the Attorney General the very best for the birth of her child and maternity leave afterwards. At a time when we are hearing about more disturbing cases of fraud, not just against private citizens but against the state and the public purse, will the Attorney General continue to give us information through the House of Commons Library, publicising the success stories of the CPS in following, tackling and prosecuting those fraudsters?

Answer from Suella Braverman

The serious fraud division has brought three high-value investment scammers to justice. These include Joseph Lewis, who ran a £20 million Ponzi scheme and was sentenced to five years and four months' imprisonment, and Freddy David, an authorised financial consultant who operated a parallel Ponzi fraud which resulted in a loss of £10.4 million to his victims.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to continuing updates through the House of Commons Library.

How: Highlighting Specific Cases

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