Jonathan Fisher KC’s review of Disclosure & Fraud Offence – the focus on Britain’s biggest crime

Part one of Jonathan Fisher KC’s Independent Review of Disclosure Report (‘the Review’), was published by the Home Office on 21 March 2025. He has now started work on Part 2 of the Review with the main goal to improve protection for the public in relation to fraud offences and strong enforcement action against those who perpetrate such offences.  

The Review is the first independent review of fraud since 1986 by Lord Roskill. In the almost 40 years since, fraud offences have evolved and account for over 40% of all offences recorded (as per by the Crime Survey for England and Wales). 

Lord Roskill’s 1986 Review 

Lord Roskill’s 1986 review concentrated largely on serious fraud committed by corporate bodies but offences of fraud now affect individual consumers/small businesses on a massive scale. This has a major impact on the wider public in the U.K with fraud against individuals estimated to be over £6.8 billion per year. 

The evolution of technology has enabled fraudsters to develop new and more sophisticated methods to target consumers, with the rising use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create scams posing as businesses and even public bodies. Thousands of individuals/small businesses can be targeted at any one time which increases the chance of someone falling prey to a scam. 

The Home Office is putting these emerging threats  at the centre of its new fraud strategy, which will be published this year and it will also be critical to the Review.  

Part 2 of the Review 

Part 2 of the Review will assess the greatest challenges and key issues in the following; 

• detection and reporting 
• disruption 
• investigation 
• prosecution and offences 
• courts 
• penalties 
• rehabilitation 

This follows part 1 of the Review which made various recommendations and which we considered on 31 March 2025.  

Jonathan Fisher KC said the following: 

“With the advances in digital technology, it has become much easier for fraudsters to avoid detection, and indeed prosecution, outright. 

This review aims to scrutinise the main challenges in detecting, investigating, and prosecuting fraud offences, and what can be done to better equip law enforcement to deliver swifter justice for victims. 

I am greatly appreciative of the criminal justice system-wide engagement since the launch of this independent review and for the continued encouragement as I turn my focus to examine fraud offences.” 

How can Olliers assist if you are facing fraud allegations?  

If you are facing an allegation of fraud it is crucial to seek early advice and at Olliers we place great emphasis on a proactive approach to the defence work, particularly during the pre-charge engagement investigation stage of the case and seek to obtain early outcomes in cases.  

At Olliers, we have a team of specialist lawyers to assist you if you are facing an allegation in relation to fraud, please contact us by telephone on 0161 834 1515, by email to info@olliers.com or complete the form below.