Economic Crime

(asked on 13th October 2023) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the announcement on ending civil service expansion by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 2 October 2023, whether the cap on the civil service headcount will affect the recruitment of the (a) 400 fraud investigators announced in the Fraud Strategy 2023 and (b) 475 full-time equivalent staff for tackling money laundering and asset recovery announced in the Economic Crime Plan 2023-26.


Answered by
Tom Tugendhat Portrait
Tom Tugendhat
Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
This question was answered on 19th October 2023

Through the Spending Review and the new Economic Crime Levy we are providing additional funding to tackle Economic Crime of £400 million up to the end of 2024/25. The headcount cap announced by the Chancellor applies to the overall size of the Civil Service, excluding the devolved administrations. Policing, including Regional Organised Crime Units (ROCUs) who are a major recipient of additional Economic Crime investment, are out of scope.

As part of the process, the Government will identify risks, and ensure this is implemented in a way which preserves frontline service delivery, business critical activity and key Government priorities. This is not a recruitment freeze, but rather about stopping unchecked growth overall and moving towards a leaner and more efficient Civil Service workforce.

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