The fraud 'justice systems': a scoping study

Researchers: Professor Mark Button

Project overview


Fraud is an expensive crime problem, with millions of cases occurring each year; however, only a tiny proportion of cases are dealt with by the criminal justice system. Instead:

  • Innovative ways have emerged for corporate victims to secure prison sanctions against fraudsters through the use of contempt in the civil courts
  • Some fraudsters, who have stolen millions of pounds, have been sanctioned by regulatory bodies with no reference to the criminal courts
  • Thousands of ‘fraudsters’ are punished by being placed on privately run fraudster registers, with no confirmation of ‘guilt’, but with serious implications for their ability to secure jobs and access financial products such as insurance, credit cards and mortgages.

The standards of justice in these systems vary significantly and in some cases are at odds with some of the foundations of justice, such as separation between investigators, prosecutors and those who determine guilt.

These justice systems have received very little research but many questions arise concerning their extent of use, effectiveness and wider implications to society. This project aims to undertake a scoping study that will map the wide range of state and private bodies administering justice in this area and evaluate the suitability, strengths and weaknesses of such arrangements. This will provide an evidence base and research tools for further research and policy development in this socially significant but neglected area.

Team


  • Professor Mark Button
    University of Portsmouth

  • Imogen Parker
    Nuffield Foundation
  • Director, Welfare
    Nuffield Foundation

Explore our projects

A front view of a father and his two children. He is carrying his young son in his arms and his daughter is riding her scooter along the footpath as he pushes his son's scooter along the way.
New

Justice | Welfare | 2024 - 2026

Challenging justice inequalities with children in conflict with the law 

View project
A young child splashing in a puddle next to his guardian and sister.
New

Justice | 2024 - 2026

Special guardianship families: experiences and support needs

View project
New

Justice | 2024 - 2026

Breaking networks of youth serious violence

View project
New

Justice | 2024 - 2024

Crossing Boundaries: Co-designing support for vulnerable young people

View project
Man getting professional advice

Justice | 2023 - 2025

Applicants’ experience of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)

View project
Little boy at home looking pensive, playing a game on a smartphone

Justice | 2023 - 2025

Linking household benefits, financial precarity and child welfare

View project
Man holds girl's hand as he walks her to primary school

Justice | 2023 - 2025

Improving safeguarding outcomes after adoption or special guardianship

View project
Mother and small child on a bus looking out of the window together and playing a game naming the things they see

Justice | 2023 - 2026

Parental Advocacy in England: a realist evaluation of implementation

View project
Portrait of a teenager in front of a blue shed, looking at the camera

Justice | 2023 - 2025

Children in police custody: piloting a ‘Child First’ approach 

View project
Father and child washing up in the kitchen

Justice | 2023 - 2025

Physical punishment and child outcomes in the UK

View project

Justice | 2023 - 2025

Access to justice through artificial intelligence

View project
Man turns towards the camera, walking in a town, with other walkers in the background

Justice | 2023 - 2023

Creating and using better justice data

View project
A young child splashing in a puddle next to his guardian and sister.
New

Justice | 2024 - 2026

Special guardianship families: experiences and support needs

View project
A front view of a father and his two children. He is carrying his young son in his arms and his daughter is riding her scooter along the footpath as he pushes his son's scooter along the way.
New

Justice | Welfare | 2024 - 2026

Challenging justice inequalities with children in conflict with the law 

View project
New

Justice | 2024 - 2024

Crossing Boundaries: Co-designing support for vulnerable young people

View project
New

Justice | 2024 - 2026

Breaking networks of youth serious violence

View project
Man getting professional advice

Justice | 2023 - 2025

Applicants’ experience of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)

View project
Portrait of a teenager in front of a blue shed, looking at the camera

Justice | 2023 - 2025

Children in police custody: piloting a ‘Child First’ approach 

View project
Man holds girl's hand as he walks her to primary school

Justice | 2023 - 2025

Improving safeguarding outcomes after adoption or special guardianship

View project
Mother and small child on a bus looking out of the window together and playing a game naming the things they see

Justice | 2023 - 2026

Parental Advocacy in England: a realist evaluation of implementation

View project
Little boy at home looking pensive, playing a game on a smartphone

Justice | 2023 - 2025

Linking household benefits, financial precarity and child welfare

View project

Justice | 2023 - 2025

Access to justice through artificial intelligence

View project
Reported

Justice | 2019 - 2023

Born into care: best practice guidelines

View project
Man leading a focus group listening to the participants speaking

Justice | 2023 - 2026

Lived experience of the law: a research and policy project

View project
Group of teenage boys at school in uniform
In progress

Justice | 2022 - 2025

Exploring racial disparity in diversion from the youth justice system

View project
Dad holding baby walking with two kids
In progress

Justice | 2022 - 2024

Administrative fairness in the digital welfare state

View project
In progress

Justice | 2022 - 2024

Transparency and judicial review: a study of the duty of candour

View project
A teenage boy outdoors
In progress

Justice | 2022 - 2024

Child First: examining children’s collaboration in the Youth Justice System

View project
Young men looking puzzled as they look to another man for advice
In progress

Justice | 2022 - 2024

The role of communities and connections in social welfare legal advice

View project
Mural artwork by Jacob V Joyce
In progress

Welfare | 2022 - 2024

Transformative justice, women with convictions and uniting communities

View project
Two children walk ahead of two adults, one pushing a pram
In progress

Justice | 2022 - 2024

Voluntary care plans for children in Scotland: using Section 25 orders

View project
Rethinking domestic abuse in child protection: responding differently
In progress

Justice | 2022 - 2024

Rethinking domestic abuse in child protection: responding differently

View project
An older couple using a tablet to make a video call: Understanding local legal needs and supporting early intervention
In progress

Justice | 2022 - 2024

Understanding local legal needs and supporting early intervention

View project
A woman helping a little girl get ready for school
In progress

Justice | Welfare | 2022 - 2024

Race, religion and representation among care-experienced children

View project
A parent or carer holds a small child
In progress

Justice | 2020 - 2023

Discharge of care orders: a national study

View project
A little girl smiles at her father
In progress

Justice | 2021 - 2024

Substituted parenting: what does this mean in the family court?

View project
A young child splashing in a puddle next to his guardian and sister.
New

Justice | 2024 - 2026

Special guardianship families: experiences and support needs

View project
New

Justice | 2024 - 2024

Crossing Boundaries: Co-designing support for vulnerable young people

View project
New

Justice | 2024 - 2026

Breaking networks of youth serious violence

View project
Reported

Justice | 2019 - 2023

Born into care: best practice guidelines

View project
Reported

Justice | 2021 - 2023

Delivering administrative justice after the pandemic

View project
Siblings play ball in a playground - Siblings Contact and the Law
Reported

Justice | 2020 - 2021

Guidance to judges on the anonymisation of children judgements

View project
Lawyer taking witness statement from male witness
Reported

Justice | 2019 - 2021

The production of witness statements by lawyers and litigants in person

View project
Reported

Justice | 2020 - 2022

When is a wedding not a marriage? Exploring non-legally binding ceremonies

View project
Reported

Justice | 2019 - 2022

The Edinburgh Study: causes and impacts of criminal justice pathways

View project
Reported

Justice | Welfare | 2015 - 2018

Bridging the Evidence Gap in Family Proceedings

View project
Reported

Justice | 2016 - 2018

The impact of Litigants in Person on the Northern Ireland court system

View project
Reported

Justice | 2016 - 2017

Transparency and privacy in family courts

View project
Reported

Justice | 2016 - 2019

Implementation of recommendations of the Carlile report

View project
Reported

Justice | 2017 - 2020

Enhancing problem-solving practice in youth court

View project
Reported

Justice | 2013 - 2019

Timely disclosures mean timely interventions for young offenders and victims

View project
Search projects

Profile