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| Serious Fraud Office told to improve intelligence gathering | Serious Fraud Office told to improve intelligence gathering |
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| The Serious Fraud Office should improve its intelligence gathering and focus on cases that have significant economic impact on the UK, according to a highly critical report. | The Serious Fraud Office should improve its intelligence gathering and focus on cases that have significant economic impact on the UK, according to a highly critical report. |
| The review by HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI) suggests the SFO needs to train staff in basic investigative techniques and check that it is accepting the right types of cases. | |
| The inspection identified significant failures in the processing of cases and other weaknesses, but acknowledged the SFO "plays a necessary role … [and] achieves a great deal under very difficult circumstances". | The inspection identified significant failures in the processing of cases and other weaknesses, but acknowledged the SFO "plays a necessary role … [and] achieves a great deal under very difficult circumstances". |
| Interviews with suspects were often overlong and lacked focus. One was recorded over the course of 40 tapes; another involved an "interview plan" that ran to more than 100 pages. | Interviews with suspects were often overlong and lacked focus. One was recorded over the course of 40 tapes; another involved an "interview plan" that ran to more than 100 pages. |
| Following recent setbacks in the investigation into property tycoon Vincent Tchenguiz which it dropped, the SFO needs to improve its performance, said the report, which was published on Tuesday. | Following recent setbacks in the investigation into property tycoon Vincent Tchenguiz which it dropped, the SFO needs to improve its performance, said the report, which was published on Tuesday. |
| "The SFO needs to review and update the case acceptance process, including the criteria by which it accepts cases … focusing on casework which is too complex for other law enforcement agencies to handle, and which has a serious economic impact on the UK. | |
| "The SFO has developed its intelligence function in recent years without clear direction. It needs to identify what intelligence can be gleaned from its core casework, link this to its current intelligence needs, both strategic and operational, and fill any shortfall by developing relationships with partners with greater capability in this field." | "The SFO has developed its intelligence function in recent years without clear direction. It needs to identify what intelligence can be gleaned from its core casework, link this to its current intelligence needs, both strategic and operational, and fill any shortfall by developing relationships with partners with greater capability in this field." |
| The HMCPSI report noted: "The quality of casework handling, and the capability of the SFO to assure itself of this, is significantly undermined by weakness in systems and processes. | |
| "Its casework handling processes are weak, and need urgent streamlining, including the standardisation of forms and record keeping. Case management compliance levels are currently insufficient, and new processes need to be mandated through effective performance management." | "Its casework handling processes are weak, and need urgent streamlining, including the standardisation of forms and record keeping. Case management compliance levels are currently insufficient, and new processes need to be mandated through effective performance management." |
| The chief inspector of the inspectorate, Michael Fuller, said: "The inspection found that there was a great will to see the SFO succeed. But much needs to be addressed if the SFO is to become a respected crime fighting organisation which is the envy of the world. | The chief inspector of the inspectorate, Michael Fuller, said: "The inspection found that there was a great will to see the SFO succeed. But much needs to be addressed if the SFO is to become a respected crime fighting organisation which is the envy of the world. |
| "As with all our inspections, this report represents a tool for improvement and I welcome the fact that [SFO's new boss] David Green has already asked us to return within two years to see that progress has been made. | "As with all our inspections, this report represents a tool for improvement and I welcome the fact that [SFO's new boss] David Green has already asked us to return within two years to see that progress has been made. |
| "Our inspection team was tailored for this task, supported by specialist fraud investigators-prosecutors and two police fraud specialists." | "Our inspection team was tailored for this task, supported by specialist fraud investigators-prosecutors and two police fraud specialists." |
| The attorney general, Dominic Grieve, said: "Tackling economic crime and complex fraud must be a priority and I wanted to ensure from the outset that the work of the SFO should be subject to independent inspection to ensure that processes and practices are continually improved." | The attorney general, Dominic Grieve, said: "Tackling economic crime and complex fraud must be a priority and I wanted to ensure from the outset that the work of the SFO should be subject to independent inspection to ensure that processes and practices are continually improved." |