Crockart speaks out for victims of fraud

14 July 2010

Edinburgh West MP Mike Crockart has today tabled an Early Day Motion at Westminster aimed at helping victims of fraud get justice. Mr Crockart's motion proposes to simplify the system by which victims can report suspected cases of fraud to the authorities.

There are currently a number of government agencies that deal with fraud reports. These include Consumer Direct, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Insurance Fraud Bureau, NHS Counter Fraud, HM Revenue and Customs, Telecommunications UK Fraud Forum and individual banks and building societies. However, concerns have been raised that the number of different agencies can be confusing for people looking to report cases of fraud.

Commenting, Mike said:

"I've tabled this motion because I want to make sure that we do everything we can to take on the fraudsters who are stealing from honest people.

Right now there are too many different bodies to which people can report fraud and it can be difficult to know which of these to approach in different circumstances. It isn't even always clear to the bodies which investigate fraud whether what they're looking at is a criminal or civil offense.

The victims of fraud often feel embarrassed enough without having to face a difficult and unmanageable system for reporting the crime. Too often I hear stories of people being passed between the different agencies and that' something that just shouldn't happen.

When it comes to fraud I'm firmly on the side of the victims. I want to make sure our system is too."