National Fraud Squad (NFS) process evaluation

Product Description

The Home Office commissioned Ipsos UK to undertake a process evaluation of the National Fraud Squad (NFS). As part of the process evaluation, an NFS Theory of Change (ToC) was developed. This body of work forms part of a commitment made in the HM Government Fraud Strategy 2023 to undertake a review of fraud law enforcement, assessing the impact the additional posts have made and whether more substantial structural reform is needed.

The process evaluation explored how NFS funding is being implemented to prevent and reduce fraud, and the extent to which the NFS is meeting its intended aims. It included interviews with strategic managers, operational managers and fraud investigative officers (FIOs) within the City of London Police (CoLP), the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs). Findings within this report are based on the perceptions of those who took part in the interviews and reflect different levels of understanding and experience of the NFS among interviewees. Furthermore, it is not within the scope of the process evaluation to measure the impact of the NFS; however, through qualitative discussions conducted with stakeholders, their perceptions of the impact of the NFS on fraud investigations are explored.