18 May 2017

David Corker comments on the Conservatives’ pledge to dismantle the SFO in The Times, Reuters, Daily Mail, CNBC, The Lawyer, GIR, Business Insider, Professional Adviser, Solicitors Journal, Financial Reporter, New Law Journal, Economia and International Adviser

The Conservatives have pledged to dismantle the UK’s Serious Fraud Office and roll it into the wider National Crime Agency if they win June’s general election.

The Tory Manifesto states: “We will strengthen Britain’s response to white collar crime by incorporating the Serious Fraud Office into the National Crime Agency, improving intelligence sharing and bolstering the investigation of serious fraud, money laundering and financial crime.”

David Corker, Partner at Corker Binning, commented: “This manifesto pledge is a pity. Under its current Director, the SFO is proving its effectiveness as a specialist economic crime enforcer. Its work on overseas bribery and raising corporate standards in that regard is world-class.

“The NCA has not yet proved its effectiveness and there is a great danger that the fight against fraud would be compromised if the SFO’s work was absorbed into its broad remit.”

Read the full articles in The TimesReuters, Daily Mail, CNBCThe Lawyer, GIRBusiness Insider, Professional Adviser, Solicitors JournalFinancial ReporterNew Law JournalEconomia and International Adviser.