Counter fraud

Man checking financial figures on calculator

Counter fraud research

Explore our work in counter fraud, one of our areas of expertise in Criminology

Economic crime is the most financially-costly crime to society, and our counter fraud research examines the growing scale, impact and cost of economic crime – and aims to help improve the way such crimes detected, prevented, investigated and prosecuted.

We're exploring how widespread fraud, corruption and other economic crimes are, assessing existing methods for fighting such crimes, and helping develop new methods to combat them. We're also looking at the different impacts that economic crime can have on victims, from individuals to large-scale organisations, and developing ethical practices for tackling counter-fraud.

Our work is regularly published in leading industry and academic journals, including the European Journal of Criminology, the International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, Victims and Offenders, the Journal of Financial Crime, the Journal of Criminological Research, and Crime, Law and Social Change. Many of our researchers have also written and published books on the subject.

Our research covers the following key topics

Counter fraud
Counter corruption
Economic crime
Victims of fraud and cyber-crime
Cost of fraud
Security and privacy
Food fraud
Economic and industrial espionage

Methods

We use both quantitative and qualitative data-gathering methods within our research. For example, recent projects have seen our researchers hold in-depth interviews with fraud victims, and conduct sophisticated quantitative research to produce the UK government's annual Cyber Security Breaches report.

Partnerships and funders

Our research is regularly used and funded by government bodies, law enforcement and other public and private organisations who deal with fraud and other economic crime. Recent funders include the Home Office, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, the Nuffield Foundation, The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Crowe UK (formerly Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP).

We also have access to one of the UK's largest groups of active economic crime researchers, and our extensive links with policing bodies and industry include research partnerships with organisations including the City of London Police and the not-for-profit fraud prevention service, Cifas.

Project highlights

A better deal for fraud victims – research into victims’ needs and experiences

Report for National Fraud Authority and Sentencing Council, Mark Button, Chris Lewis, Jacki Tapley
Research on sentencing for online fraud offences

Report for Midlands Fraud Forum, Eversheds and PKF, Mark Button, Chris Lewis, David Shepherd, Graham Brooks, Alison Wakefield
The Cyber Security Breaches

Report for Survey Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (2018), Mark Button, Victoria Wang

Publication highlights

Cyber Breaches Survey 2019

London: IPSOS Mori, K. Finnerty, S. Fullick, H. Motha, J. Navin, M. Button, and V. Wang
Private Policing

2nd Edition (2019). Abingdon: Routledge. M. Button
The Profile and Detection of Bribery in Norway and England and Wales: A Comparative Study

European Journal of Criminology (2019), 16, issue: 1, page(s): 18-40, M. Andresen and M. Button
The Real Cost of Recruitment Fraud

The Real Cost of Recruitment Fraud (2019), J. Gee, M. Button, V. Wang, D. Blackbourn and D. Shepherd, London: Crowe
The barriers to the opening of government data in the UK – A view from the bottom

Information Polity (2019). 24, 59-74, V. Wang, D. Shepherd, and M. Button

Discover our areas of expertise

Counter fraud is one of our 7 areas of expertise in our Criminology research area. Explore the others below.

Forensic interviewing

We're exploring new and better ways to gather quality, reliable information from crime scenes and witnesses' minds – and helping develop protocols and practices that ensure this human data is protected and interpreted correctly.

Woman writing crime studies notes on white board

Missing persons

In our Centre for the Study of Missing Persons, we're identifying patterns of behaviour that precede a person going missing and working to change the policies and practices that determine how such cases are handled.

Cybercrime

We're exploring the growing threat and impact cybercrime at all levels of society, investigating the methods and motives of the people who commit it, and finding new ways to deal with them.

Policing

In the wake of a prolonged period of budget cuts, our work deals with the most-pressing issues facing the police service – from how police officers learn, to the individual factors that can influence an investigation.

Penology

We're working to understand the role of punishment, and how it links with processes of justice and rehabilitation – and helping shape how criminal justice practitioners work, by linking theory to practice.

Forensics

We're taking a closer look at how science can help identify, eliminate, reconstruct and inform the ways in which crime is investigated – including through fingerprinting and DNA recovery.

Research centres and groups

Risk Counter Fraud and Cyber Resilience Research Group

We're researching the challenge of fraud and its effective control, focussing on how to inform the practice and delivery of security from public and private sector perspectives.

Policing Crime and Forensic Investigation Research Group

We're researching policing, probation and criminal forensic investigation.

Centre for Counter Fraud Studies

The Centre for Counter Fraud Studies accommodates the growing interest in counter fraud as a research discipline.

Interested in a PhD in Criminology?

Browse our postgraduate research degrees – including PhDs and MPhils – at our Criminology postgraduate research degrees page.