NFIB becomes part of the curriculum at the National Lead Force Centre of Excellence
The financial industry and key stakeholders are learning about the NFIB’s major role in fighting fraud at the City of London Police’s Centre of Excellence.
The training centre is an integral part of the force's responsibilities as the National Lead Force for fraud, and sits alongside its role in managing the Bureau.
Led by Detective Inspector Andrew Fyfe, and assisted by an experienced team of fraud investigators, the Centre of Excellence leads on 'Proactive Crime Prevention' and works closely with partners such as the the OFT, Met Police and NFA to inform citizens of the threats from fraud.
Based at the force's Economic Crime Directorate, it provides a number of services for police, law enforcement and financial industry audiences including:
Guidance - maximising opportunities for operational learning and publishing best practice guidance for agencies tackling NFIB priorities; money laundering, organised crime, professional enablers, share purchase fraud and payment card fraud
Training - designing and providing bespoke fraud-training courses
Advice – a "surgery" service where matters relating to fraud can be discussed and the most suitable solutions found
DI Fyfe said:
“Our aim is to help improve the standard of fraud investigation throughout the whole counter fraud community. The training we give is focused on improving capabilities in tackling the NFIB priorities of organised crime, professional enablers, payment card crime, share purchase fraud and money laundering.
“What we offer will evolve and expand as time goes on. I'm keen to hear from anyone wishing to discuss what training, advice or guidance we can offer on fraud matters."
This July the Centre began running two courses specifically for external audiences from the financial industry:
The Counter Fraud Course - an induction level course for people new to the role of fraud investigation. Key topics included current fraud typologies; working with police; case acceptance criteria; witness statements; handling and disseminating intelligence; professional enablers; Fraud Act and other legislation and investigation case studies.
Internet Investigations Course - students are taught how there is more to the internet than just "Google", showing them how to refine searches using the deep web and alternative search engines; understand social networking; computer forensics considerations and IT security issues.
The Director of the NFIB, Det Supt David Clarke, said:
“The Lead Force and NFIB are about supporting victims of fraud and targeting fraudsters by enforcement and disruption. But education is also vital if we are to prevent people falling prey to victims in the first place."
For further information, please contact DI Andrew Fyfe on 020 7601 6849, andrew.fyfe@cityoflondon.pnn.police.uk
