The government has given the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) an extra £9.3m to fight financial crime. Katie Wheatley’s letter considering this decision has been published in the Law Society Gazette.

Katie is the head of our Crime, Fraud and Regulatory team. She shares her thoughts on the government’s extra funding to the SFO: what the government will expect, what may be in store for financial crime, and the ‘failure to prevent fraud’ offence.

In times of strained public finances this clearly demonstrates the government’s confidence in Nick Ephgrave QPM, the SFO’s director, to lead the SFO in the fight. The government will expect to see a return on that investment in faster and more consistently successful outcomes. Convictions will lead to sentences for those responsible, as well as the prospect of recovery of substantial financial penalties via DPAs, fines and confiscation.

Read Katie’s full letter in the Law Society Gazette here.