UK News

16.09.09 Four arrested connection with a £9m mortgage fraud

40 police officers have been involved in the operation in the South-East of England which has led to a number of co-ordinated searches on four houses, the business unit of a gaming company and a solicitor’s office. Police officers have seized documents from the sites searched. As a result of the raids police have arrested four men on charges of conspiracy to defraud.

14.09.09 HM Revenue and Customs officers arrested 21 people in raids in a multi million pound construction industry fraud.

HM Revenue and Customs officers arrested 21 people in raids in a multi million pound construction industry fraud.

The arrests were made on suspicion of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and money laundering offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The Act was designed to take the profit out of crime, making it harder for money to be laundered and depriving criminals of their illicit wealth.

10.09.09 Serious Fraud Office (SFO) launches investigation into JJB and Sports Direct

Following an OFT investigation into the sports retail market, it has been announced that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has now begun its own investigations into JJB Sports and Sports Direct.

JJB Sports revealed that it had stated its concerns about possible cartel activity in its market to the OFT which in turn has been granted immunity from any financial penalty in the event that competition rules have been broken.

3 June 2009 36 million spliffs incinerated as international crime gang is convicted

Over 12.5 tonnes of cannabis resin – enough to produce 36 million spliffs – has been incinerated after an investigation by the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

The drugs seizure, from the tug boat ‘Abbira’ which had docked at Southampton, represents one of the largest seizures of cannabis resin in the UK. It was destroyed in a specialist incinerator and needed 6 separate burnings to cope with the volume.