MLex: Banks and other financial services firms suspected of serious wrongdoing could soon find themselves subject to joint investigations by the UK's white-collar crime prosecutor and financial watchdog.

Law360: British companies will probably enjoy greater sway over the investment decisions taken by their pension plans under new rules being considered by The Pensions Regulator (TPR), Aon plc said on 25 March 2024.

MLex: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) could be liable for costs totalling millions of pounds following a claim brought by three former executives linked to London Mining, after a bribery case against them was dropped earlier in 2026.

MLex: New powers that could force companies to hand over information to investigators before they are formally under investigation have been welcomed by the UK's anti-fraud agency.

MLex: The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) won't lose its independence as a result of a law change that could see the prosecutor required to carry out certain investigations as these powers will be kept in the 'back pocket', Parliament has been told. The government proposes that the National Crime Agency (NCA) should be empowered to 'direct' the SFO to take on fraud, bribery, and corruption cases, a change that needs legislative approval.

MLex: The major political parties vying for power in the UK this week released their detailed manifestos for the 4 July 2024 parliamentary election. But anyone looking for meaningful fighting talk over financial crime will be disappointed.

MLex: The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) will be expected to play a part in recouping billions of pounds’ worth of suspected fraud linked to the pandemic, as the new government set out plans for a new Covid Corruption Commissioner.

MLex: The UK's white-collar crime agency has been ordered to reveal the costs of its decade-long failed probe into mining giant Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC), with a court in London ruling today that it had been wrong to hold back the figures.

Law360: A programme launching in October 2024 that allows victims of fraudulent authorised push payments to get reimbursement from banks and payments companies could be exploited by organised crime to cash in with bogus claims, according to lawyers.

Lord Hanson has outlined the UK’s fraud strategy in a keynote speech delivered at the Global Fraud Summit in Vienna. The speech notes that the strategy, launched prior to the summit, focuses on six areas: data sharing; international co-operation; global public awareness of fraud; strengthened victim support; challenges posed by artificial intelligence and asset recovery measures. Hanson noted that fraud accounts for 44% of all UK crime, emphasising its impact on individuals, businesses and the wider economy, as well as its implications for economic growth and trade. The speech also highlights that the UK has spearheaded the development of a global public-private partnership to operationalise the UN Framework, creating shared working arrangements between governments and industry to enhance prevention and disruption capabilities, involving several countries alongside private sector partners. Hanson further highlighted that fraud is a cross-border threat requiring a collective response and called for more effective information sharing. The speech also announced the UK’s support for an Interpol-led Global Task Force on scam centres, calling for co-ordinated action across governments, law enforcement and industry.

As from 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom (UK) no longer benefits from any free trade agreements that it was a party to as a result of its membership of the EU. The UK has embarked on an ambitious trade negotiations strategy to replicate its trading arrangements enjoyed under its former membership of the EU as well as to release its own trade ambitions. This tracker tracks the trade agreements the UK has negotiated and which are in effect. Country Free Trade Agreement Albania UK/Albania Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement Antigua and Barbuda CARIFORUM-UK economic partnership agreement Australia Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement Austria UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement Bahamas CARIFORUM-UK economic partnership agreement Barbados CARIFORUM-UK economic partnership agreement Belgium UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement Belize CARIFORUM-UK

As from 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom (UK) no longer benefits from any free trade agreements that it was a party to as a result of its membership of the EU. The UK has embarked on an ambitious trade negotiations strategy to replicate its trading arrangements enjoyed under its former membership of the EU as well as to release its own trade ambitions. This tracker tracks the trade agreements the UK has negotiated and which are in effect. Country Free Trade Agreement Albania UK/Albania Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement Antigua and Barbuda CARIFORUM-UK economic partnership agreement Austria UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement Bahamas CARIFORUM-UK economic partnership agreement Barbados CARIFORUM-UK economic partnership agreement Belgium UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement Belize CARIFORUM-UK economic