This article was originally published by Global Relay Intelligence & Practice

Will new SFO head Nick Ephgrave be able to reverse the organisation’s fortunes and damaged reputation?

By Martin Kenney and Tony McClements

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is the UK’s flagship law enforcement organization, dedicated to investigating and prosecuting the nation’s most serious fraud and corruption cases. However, its reputation has been severely damaged in recent years, with several high-profile cases collapsing, over what sometimes might be described as schoolboy errors.

As individuals, SFO investigators and prosecutors are hardworking and conscientious – as Tony knows from his days as a UK fraud detective working with them. But they have lacked effective leadership from the top, which in turn has led to these high-profile case failures.

Such has been the lack of leadership, in fact, it is fair to question whether the SFO should be disbanded in its current form and moved under the umbrella of the National Crime Agency, which is the UK’s equivalent of the FBI.

When former senior police officer Nick Ephgrave took over the SFO last September, we welcomed the appointment. Historically the SFO has been lawyer-led, so this change in tack could prove to be the SFO’s salvation. Unfortunately, Ephgrave has inherited several cases and issues not of his making.

READ MORE: at Global Relay Intelligence & Practice

Martin Kenney and Tony McClements are Head of Firm, and Head of Investigations, respectively, at Martin Kenney & Co (MKS), an investigative litigation practice based in the British Virgin Islands.