Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill

Written evidence submitted by the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) (ECCTB19)

Dear Committee,

Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill

We are writing as the Leads of the APCC Economic and Cybercrime portfolio to express our support for the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill as it goes through the Committee stage.

As Police and Crime Commissioners, we represent the voice of the public in policing and work with our Chief Constables to deliver an effective and efficient response to economic crime.

We are pleased the see the priority with which the Government is viewing economic crime, and the tools it is providing law enforcement to prevent fraud, protect individuals and businesses and investigate potential wrongdoing. The outlined reforms to Companies House and limited partnerships will increase transparency, prevent fraudulent appointments, and enable more effective financial investigation. The provision of powers to law enforcement to more quickly and easily seize and recover crypto assets will support continued efforts to tackle money laundering and other cyber criminality such as ransomware.

We note that currently there is no provision in the Bill for corporate criminal liability, also known as the failure in the duty to prevent fraud. We understand there are intentions to include provision for this in amendments and we wish to make our full support for this inclusion known and recorded.

Thank you for considering our views, and we would welcome any opportunity to discuss further.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Shelford APCC Lead for Economic and Cybercrime Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon & Somerset

James Thomson APCC Deputy Lead for Economic and Cybercrime Chair of the City of London Police Authority Board

Andy Dunbobbin APCC Deputy Lead for Economic and Cybercrime Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales

15 November 2022