Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with police forces on the adequacy of their capacity to investigate complex fraud cases.

The Home Office is leading cross-system efforts to tackle complex fraud, and improving law enforcement capability is a key part of this work.

Having now completed recruitment of the new National Fraud Squad, we continue to work closely with key partners to ensure the delivery of a new, improved national reporting service and to enhance fraud training and skills. These measures will ensure a proactive, intelligence-based approach to investigating complex fraud cases.

From 2026, we will monitor each force in England and Wales on their performance in tackling fraud through the His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Police Efficiency Effectiveness and Legitimacy (PEEL) framework. This will provide valuable insight on investigative practices including capacity to investigate complex fraud cases.

Further detail will be set out in the forthcoming Fraud Strategy.