Time For An Effective Long Term Strategy For The SFO?

The announcement of the appointment of Simon Duckworth from July this year as a new non executive director to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is a welcome move at a time when the government has signally failed to provide the organisation with a clear strategy for its future.  The government's stated commitment to fighting fraud effectively is now open to serious question.

Mr Duckworth's experience as Chairman of the City of London Police Authority and his career in the City investment community make him ideally placed to help the SFO shape its future after a period of unacceptable uncertainty.  The reality appears to be that the SFO has been given another twelve months by the government to prove itself.    The likelihood remains that it will be split up and merged, partly with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and partly with the new National Crime Agency due to replace the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) set up under the Labour government.