ABSTRACT
The investigation of economic crime, as with any other criminal investigation must be conducted strictly within the legal framework of government legislation and procedures. In particular, consideration must be given to potential breaches of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. In relation to the identification of specific criminal offences and the desired outcome of a criminal prosecution, it is likely that the provisions of one or more of the following Acts will be considered during the investigation process and during discussions with Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)/SFO lawyers and appointed counsel. Evidence relating to the dishonest appropriation of money is usually at the core of many fraud investigations. Media liaison is also an important consideration where the complainant in the case is a public sector body. The referral of a complaint to the Economic Crime Unit (ECU) may originate from a number of internal and external sources.
