Catch up with the latest news.
Crackdown on VAT fraud continues
HMRC's crackdown on VAT fraud is clearly continuing, with the news that a 59-year-old man from the Aberdeen area has been detained by investigators pursuing a suspected fraud in relation to the VAT Flat Rate Scheme. According to HMRC, evidence was recovered by investigators with one of its task forces… Read more ...Five convicted of trafficking women
Five members of an organised crime group, which brought young women into the UK from Hungary for prostitution, have been convicted of conspiring to traffic women into the UK for sexual exploitation. The Hungarian nationals, four male and one female, were found guilty following a trial at Hove Crown Court in… Read more ...Nearly 700 tax criminals convicted in 2013
Figures recently released by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have revealed there were around 700 convictions for tax and benefit fraud during 2013. Between January and the end of November, HMRC investigations led to 690 successful convictions – up from 477 in 2012, and the highest since the 2010 Spending… Read more ...Flagship Bill to tackle modern slavery
Earlier this week the Home Secretary, Theresa May, published a draft Bill designed to tackle modern slavery in England and Wales, the first Bill of its kind in Europe. The draft legislation forms part of a Government White Paper setting out action needed to eradicate slavery from the UK. It will… Read more ...Support for the abolition of requirement for Corroboration.
As the debate on abolishing the requirement for corroboration continues to divide opinion in Scotland, the Solicitor General Lesley Thomson Q.C. has spoken out in favour of the proposal. The Scottish Government plans to abolish the requirement for corroboration as it believes that the current system is working against some… Read more ...DPP to examine criminal justice approach to human trafficking in England
The issue of human trafficking has recently been under the spotlight in England, with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) meeting with experts and interested parties to discuss the investigation and prosecution of this offence. Human trafficking is criminalised in England and Wales under two specific pieces of legislation: section… Read more ...Crime rates decrease for sixth year in a row
We were interested to read that there has been a fall for the sixth consecutive year in the number of people who had criminal proceedings raised against them, according to recent figures released by Scotland’s Chief Statistician. In 2012-13, the total number of people proceeded against in Scottish courts fell… Read more ...Merseyside man jailed for benefit fraud
The law finally caught up with Norman Brennan from Merseyside this week, when he was jailed for three years for benefits fraud, reports Sky News. In 2008 Brennan had admitted defrauding the public purse to the tune of around £120,000. Prior to sentencing he was granted bail but he subsequently… Read more ...Crackdown on VAT fraud continues
HMRC’s crackdown on VAT fraud continues with the detention of a businessman from Fife in relation to a suspected £500,000 VAT repayment fraud. HMRC officers searched one domestic and two business premises in Fife last week, where they seized business records relating to the suspected fraud. The operation is linked… Read more ...