DIY Fraud Investigation and Access to Justice: A Case Study
David Shepherd · Policing A Journal of Policy and Practice · 2020
Abstract Access to justice for fraud victims remains an enduring problem in the UK. Law enforcement agencies have limited capacity and capabilities for delivering criminal justice. Civil justice is so expensive that it is only an option for those with deep pockets or lucky enough to find competent professionals who are willing to work under a conditional fee arrangement (no-win-no-fee). This article describes the progress of a fraud case from a victim’s perspective through both the criminal and civil justice systems in the UK. The experiences describe incompetence in law enforcement, dishonesty and incompetence amongst lawyers and other professionals, and fractured, self-centred justice systems that poorly serve the public in England and Wales.