NCJ Number
111477
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1988) Pages: 32-37
Date Published
1988
Length
6 pages
Annotation
England and Wales are in the process of developing a new system for investigating and prosecuting serious fraud, including major cases of official corruption.
Abstract
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) will include permanent staff and supplemental resources provided by both the public and private sectors (e.g., Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise, and practitioners with specialist expertise). The powers granted the director of the SFO include requiring the production of needed documents, obtaining search warrants, and summoning witnesses. The powers, however, do not extend to detention or arrest. These more general powers are vested in the police who will work in conjunction with the SFO. Finally, to ensure that the SFO can fill its mandate, most restrictions on confidentiality and the disclosure of information have been removed by legislation; such information may be disclosed both to other internal agencies and to international agencies where appropriate. Additional changes regarding the admissibility of certain sorts of evidence (e.g., video, hearsay) have been enacted to enhance prosecution of serious fraud cases.