Fraud Newsletter
February 2026
Compiled by Faras Baloch, Andrew Herd, Francesca Kirby. & Katie Bacon
Cases
Simms-Davies v Southwark Crown Court [2026] EWHC 337 (Admin): DPA engages open justice principle justifying de-anonymisation of DPA approving judgment in which acquitted D was named.
Sentencing & Confiscation
Hargreaves [2026] EWCA Crim 58: Crown Ct not obliged to determine tainted gift issue at restraint order variation stage, but can defer decision to enforcement stage.
Bills, Statutes & SIs
Courts and Tribunals Bill (trials on indictment without a jury in complex or lengthy cases, see clause 42A and Schedule 3ZA): 25 Feb 26
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026 (new regulatory framework for cryptoassets): 4 Feb 26
Sentencing Act 2026 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2026 (commences bail provisions & further release after recall): 2 Feb 26
Guidance, Reports & Consultations
Unexplained wealth orders annual report 2024 to 2025 Gov.uk: 25 Feb 26
Environmental Crime: Could a New Protocol Help Us Follow the Money? RUSI: 24 Feb 26
Tariffs, trade, and financial crime: What banks must do now World Economic Forum: 20 Feb 26
ESMA Consultation Paper on MAR Guidelines on delay in the disclosure of inside information: 19 Feb 26
Cyber security longitudinal survey - wave five results Gov.uk: 17 Feb 26
Police.AI - New Tech Tools for UK Law Enforcement RUSI: 12 Feb 26
National Fraud Squad (NFS) process evaluation Gov.uk: 5 Feb 26
Financial Reporting Council updated Guidance on the Strategic Report: 4 Feb 26
Joint Money Laundering Steering Group Revisions to Part 1 of AML and CTF guidance: 4 Feb 26
Independent Review of the Criminal Courts: Part 2: 4 Feb 26
News
SRA investigating potential fraud at collapsed PM Law LSG: 27 Feb 26
Two people arrested in waste packaging fraud and money laundering probe Sky News: 25 Feb 26
UK government accused of shelving fraud report (Part 2 of Jonathan Fisher KC’s Review into Fraud) FT: 24 Feb 26
Police AI chief admits crime-fighting tech will have bias but vows to tackle it Guard: 24 Feb 26
ICO wins Court of Appeal case in DSG Retail ruling (DSG fined £500,000 after cyber attack affected date of 14m people) ICO: 19 Feb 26
Former Nigerian oil minister stands trial in the UK on bribery charges ICIJ: 6 Feb 26
Trafigura wins blockbuster Gupta fraud claim GTR: 4 Feb 26
SFO
Interim Director appointed to lead the Serious Fraud Office (Graham McNulty) SFO: 26 Feb 26
SFO secures £283,000 confiscation order against Harlequin boss David Ames Prof. Adviser: 26 Feb 26
SFO secures 4-year prison sentence for aircraft parts fraud (AOG Technics): SFO: 24 Feb 26
Safe Hands directors appear in court accused of conspiracy to defraud and fraud by false representation Wills & Probate: 13 Feb 26
Update on the SFO’s e-discovery review (Director of Operations Emma Luxton provides information on SFO review of past e-discovery software): 12 Feb 26
SFO indicate it is no longer continuing with London Mining Plc prosecution (issues with Autonomy e-discovery software) SFO: 12 Feb 26
Guralp Can’t Bring DPA Appeal To UK Supreme Court Law360 [paywall]: 10 Feb 26
Patisserie Valerie fraud trial delayed to 2028 Business & Accountancy Daily: 10 Feb 26
CPS
Funeral directors sentenced after robbing families of chance to say goodbye with dignity CPS: 19 Feb 26
Ex-Council Worker jailed for £893,926 Fraud Against Vulnerable Service Users CPS: 18 Feb 26
Former Police Federation Treasurer Convicted of £13,500 Expenses Fraud CPS: 12 Feb 26
FCA
Influencers fined for issuing unauthorised financial promotions FCA: 20 Feb 26
FCA fines former chief executive of Carillion plc (in liquidation) FCA: 16 Feb 26
FCA fines two individuals a combined £108,731 for insider dealing FCA: 10 Feb 26
FCA takes action against HTX to stop illegal financial promotions FCA: 10 Feb 26
NCA
Fraudsters arrested in Nigeria following NCA intelligence sharing NCA: 20 Feb 26
Student who attempted to scam university applicants out of nearly £50k jailed NCA: 9 Feb 26
Insolvency Service
London construction boss gets suspended sentence, unpaid work order and six-year director ban IS: 27 Feb 26
Manchester fraudster who followed friend’s advice to claim maximum-value Covid loan is jailed IS: 25 Feb 26
Lettings boss who wanted to become Mayor of London sentenced for fraud IS: 18 Feb 26
Takeaway owner who bought Apple and Burberry goods instead of paying tax bill ordered to repay more than £70,000 IS: 17 Feb 26
Europe
Norway’s former PM charged with gross corruption over Epstein links BBC: 12 Feb 26
Europe’s anti-money laundering body set to be fully operational in 2028 Reuters: 4 Feb 26
US
Former Coal Company Executive Convicted in International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme DOJ: 19 Feb 26
Beyond
MACC [Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission] collaborates with UK’s SFO on RM2.5 billion IJM Corporation investigation Scoop: 11 Feb 26