SERIOUS FRAUD OFFICE (UK)

Nightmare on Elm Street: The SFO's premises in Elm Street, London

The 'Serious Fraud Office' (SFO) is an arm of the Government of the United Kingdom, accountable to the Attorney-General. Established by the Criminal Justice Act 1987, the Serious Fraud Office is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of suspected cases of serious or complex fraud where £1 million or more are involved or covers more than one national jurisdiction, though it is rare for cases involving less than £1 million to be taken. It has jurisdiction over England and Wales and Northern Ireland but not Scotland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, though the Serious Fraud Office's compulsory information powers contained in section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1987 do so under invitation from the relevant prosecuting body.
The SFO was established in 1988 after the Roskill Report recommended that this specialist duty be taken away from normal police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service. The report came in the wake of several failed prosecutions
The Director is Robert Wardle, appointed on April 21, 2003.
Private Eye, which often cites what it sees as toothlessness or incompetence on the part of the SFO, nearly always calls it the "Serious Farce Office" and others have dubbed it the "Seriously Flawed Office" for similar reasons.

Contents
Al Yamamah Arms Deal
Targets
External link

Al Yamamah Arms Deal


The SFO was involved in investigating allegations of corruption occurring at the arms manufacturer, BAE Systems, as part of the Al Yamamah arms deal. The enquiry was halted in December 2006 because of a claimed "...need to safeguard national and international security." [1]
The SFO was rebuked by the OECD in March 2007 for dropping this enquiry. [2] The UK is a signatory to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention which is aims to reduce corruption. If it is true that BAE Systems paid bribes as part of contracts, as is alleged, then this would be contrary to the OECD convention.

Targets



★ Barry Townsley -- Labour donor involved in the "Cash for Honours" affair

External link



★ Serious Fraud Office

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