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NCA UKFIU SARs in Action Issue 36 reports £5.8M in recovered assets, £14.5M under investigation, £500K+ in tax recoveries, and nearly 150 arrests with 40 convictions driven by SARs intelligence

June 1, 2026

This Edition reports that more than 1,600 law enforcement officials are now using the SARs Digital Service, while the UKFIU continues to develop new functionality and run legacy systems in parallel during the transition. It also features NECC Amber Alert themes on electronic money transfers between the Western Balkans and the UK and the abuse of international mortgage products, alongside SARs Intelligence…

Met Police guidance on ‘Information for Victims of Economic & Cyber Crime’ supports fraud victims in reporting quickly and accessing help, stressing early reporting for faster investigation and recovery

May 28, 2026

The guidance highlights that economic and cybercrime are high-volume, fast-evolving offences that require rapid reporting and coordinated response, and stresses that early reporting improves the chances of disruption, investigation, and potential asset recovery, while also encouraging victims to seek support services to mitigate financial and emotional harm…

NCA and Irish authorities have dismantled a sophisticated cross-border money laundering network, leading to six arrests and the seizure of more than £800,000 in illicit cash

May 28, 2026

Authorities also seized approximately £176,000 during searches in Ireland. The arrests are linked to an ongoing investigation that previously led to the seizure of €450,000 and £258,000 in cash following arrests in Newry in November 2025. The NCA stated that organised crime groups operating across the island of Ireland rely on money laundering networks to recycle criminal proceeds and fund further criminal activity, and emphasised…

Finance Innovation Lab’s report 2026 reveals £325B in illicit funds flows through the UK annually, rising to £788B with linked offshore jurisdictions, exposing major ML, corruption and tax abuse risks

May 25, 2026

The report argues that the UK’s position as a global financial centre, combined with the use of offshore structures and professional enablers, continues to make it vulnerable to money laundering, corruption, tax abuse and other illicit financial flows. It calls for stronger transparency measures, enhanced enforcement capabilities and greater scrutiny of those facilitating financial transactions, warning that illicit finance remains a significant threat to economic integrity, governance and national security…

UK delays its Illicit Finance Summit to December 2026 to broaden global participation, with a focus on strengthening information sharing, enforcement, asset recovery, and action on high-risk sectors

May 22, 2026

The new dates will enable broader participation, ensuring the Summit generates the strongest possible international commitments to drive impact at a time of heightened global economic and geopolitical tension. The Summit will bring together a diverse coalition of governments, international organisations, civil society, and the private sector to tackle…

House of Commons Library highlights the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill 2024–26 expands the UK cyber regime, strengthening regulator powers, incident reporting and national security oversight

May 22, 2026

The Bill extends the Network and Information Systems Regulations to additional sectors including data centres, managed service providers, large load controllers, and critical suppliers supporting essential services. Proposed reforms also enhance enforcement powers through higher fines, greater information-sharing and cost-recovery powers for regulators, and new government powers to direct organisations and regulators where national security risks arise…

Companies House and the IPO warn businesses about payment scams posing as official services, urging firms to verify requests and use official GOV.UK channels

May 21, 2026

The alert advises businesses to exercise caution when receiving such requests, particularly those sent to registered office addresses or via email, and to carefully check sender details, website domains, and any disclaimers indicating lack of government affiliation. Organisations are encouraged to verify any suspicious communication directly with Companies House or the IPO before making payments, especially where urgency or payment pressure is applied…

CoLP’s ‘Operation Seraphim’ led to 31 arrests in a global crackdown on online fraud and ML networks using encrypted platforms, compromised data, spoofing tools, and fraud-as-a-service schemes

May 20, 2026

The operation targeted sophisticated online fraud ecosystems operating through encrypted messaging groups and anonymous digital identities, where criminals were collaborating to facilitate impersonation scams, account takeovers, money laundering, spoofing services, compromised data sales, and “fraud-as-a-service” offerings at scale. Leveraging advanced automation, data analytics, and cross-border intelligence-sharing, investigators identified hundreds of online accounts linked to organised financial crime networks targeting victims across the UK and Europe…

Companies House’s Business Plan 2026–27 sets out major reforms to boost transparency and tackle economic crime via mandatory identity verification, improved data accuracy, and digital modernisation

May 19, 2026

The plan sets targets including at least 225,000 actions using the Registrar’s new powers to address abuse and improve data integrity, alongside full rollout of identity verification requirements for company directors and people with significant control. Companies House also plans further digital transformation, enhanced data interoperability, and modernised compliance and customer service capabilities to support economic growth, corporate transparency, and fraud prevention…

UK Govt announces a £30M crackdown on “dodgy” high street businesses linked to organised crime, establishing a new Unit to step up enforcement against ML, tax evasion, and illicit trade

May 19, 2026

The initiative will establish a new High Street Organised Crime Unit, backed by £20 million in enforcement funding and additional officers across key policing regions, alongside £6 million for Trading Standards to strengthen local inspections, compliance, and enforcement. The programme will drive coordinated raids, closures, cash seizures, and arrests across rogue barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts, and sweet shops suspected of being fronts for criminal networks, building on Operation Machinize, which has already resulted in hundreds of arrests and millions in seized criminal assets…

NCA launches a first-of-its-kind initiative with banks to detect and disrupt payments linked to overseas livestreamed child sexual abuse, using financial intelligence to identify offenders and prevent harm

May 18, 2026

Through its Public–Private Partnerships unit, the NCA is sharing intelligence, real case studies, and transaction patterns with banks to help them spot suspicious payment behaviour linked to CSA livestreaming networks, often involving facilitators abroad who are paid small, repeated amounts for live abuse directed by offenders in the UK. The initiative also encourages banks to detect breaches of Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and intervene earlier through financial monitoring, recognising that every payment leaves a traceable financial footprint that can help prevent ongoing abuse…

IPSFF Fraud Prevention Savings Framework sets out a standardised method for measuring fraud prevention savings and strengthens evidence-based, prevention-led public sector fraud control