Barclays PLC is guilty of criminal behaviour
This evening I submitted the following report to the Tower Hamlets Division of the Metropolitan Police.
“I am contacting you as the police authority responsible for the area in which Barclays PLC, 1 Churchill Place, London has its HQ. From press reports today and, in particular on the basis of the Final Notice issued by the Financial Services Authority today, 27 June 2012 (FSA Reference No. 122702), I have reason to believe that a crime of fraud has been committed by Barclays Bank PLC and hereby report this alleged crime to the Metropolitan Police.”
Section 4 of the Fraud Act 2006 would seem to cover matters nicely.
I look forward to their response.
UPDATE 0942hrs 29 June 2012
This morning, the Scotsman reports that “During a visit to a police call centre in south London yesterday, Met Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe was asked whether he would launch an investigation into Barclays and replied: “If there were any complaints I’m sure we’d consider it.—
At 0942 this morning I received a call from the Metropolitan Police to confirm that the above report has been received. It has been allocated Call Reference Number CHS20170629002017. Since (as far as I am aware) I am not a victim of this alleged crime, the Police are unable to discuss the matter further with me but have stated that investigations are underway and that any developments will be reported in due course.
UPDATE 2213hrs 29 June 2012
I have been advised that any crime reported to the Metropolitan Police should be allocated a cris number – a crime reference number. The number above is a call handling number. I phoned the Met this evening to ask what the cris number was and they told me that, following my earlier call this morning at 0839, the file had been closed at 0943 and no crime reference number allocated. The reason for this is that I am not a victim of the crime of fraud that I allege Barclays Bank has committed. Only a victim can report a crime. So that is that. Until the MET receive a complaint from a victim, they can happily report that no complaints have been received. from press reports today, however, the Serious Fraud Office is in discussions with the FSA.
UPDATE 2246hrs 29 June 2012
I have submitted a formal complaint to the Metropolitan Police over their handling of my report of alleged fraud.
UPDATE 13 July 2012
On 3 July, the Metropolitan Police wrote to me informing me that my crime report was not accepted because the contact forms provided for Borough police divisions in London cannot be used to report a crime. Instead, you are meant to use the online crime reporting service. But I chose not to use this because it emphatically states that it is to be used only for emergency crimes and I had no wish to waste police time. According to the police I need to make a crime allegation through the proper channels, namely by phoning 101 or in person at a police station.
I live in Edinburgh and 101 does not work from Edinburgh.
From: HTMailbox-MSU@met.police.uk
Subject: RE: Borough Contact B01-00015636
Date: 3 July 2012 16:18:47 GMT+01:00
To: Andy Wightman <andy@andywightman.scot>
Sir,
Thank you for you contact via the generic email system.Â
This system cannot be used to report a crime, and I notice you ticked the box that confirmed it is not a crime report.Â
There are certain crimes that can be reported online, but this is not one of them.
To progress this matter you will need to make a crime allegation for evidential purposes through the proper channels, namely either by phoning 101 or attending a police station.
I hope this has been of assistance.Â
Regards
ColeÂ
———————–
Then, on 10 July 2012, I received the following email from Nigel Newman at Bethnal Green Police Station
From: ******************
Subject: Borough Contact
Date: 10 July 2012 13:05:45 GMT+01:00
Cc: **************
Further to you previous generic email this matter has been accepted for investigation by the Serious Fraud Office, any complaints need to be addressed to Action Fraud or if you believe you have information about a serious fraud then this can be reported confidentially via SFO Confidential.
Secure online reporting form:Â
https://report.sfo.gov.uk/sfo-confidential—provide-information-in-confidence.aspxÂ
Email:Â confidential@sfo.gsi.gov.ukÂ
Address:Â :Â SFO Confidential, Serious Fraud Office, Elm House, 10-16 Elm Street, London, WC1X 0BJÂ
https://report.sfo.gov.uk/sfo-confidential—provide-information-in-confidence.aspx
I hope this has been of assistance.
Well done. How sad and bizarre that it’s down to a private citizen to recognise the illegality of Barclays’ actions; that no regulatory body or politicians have taken this step.
Not at all! We need to stop relying on Establishment politicians of whatever party ilk – they’re all in it together, politically, socially and (im)morally because ideologically wedded to the GDP-growth profiteering model in which economics rules rather than serves human society. Economics must become a MORAL science, not an econometric tool. Time to unlock democracy and start doing it for oursleves Ann Pettifor’s e-petition to the Treasury has received over 3,500 in less than 24 hrs. You can sign/tweet it here:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/35421
Well the politicians are hardly going to do it, they are in cahoots with the **** of England to do exactly the same thing with QE to artificially lower interest rates…
Good for you – I trust you’ll keep us in formed as to what reaction you receive from the authorities .
I will post response on this blog and tweet
Really need someone with a Barclays account to complain…
I have a Barclays Account though it does not have much money in it!
Bob Diamond has plenty more to answer to: http://kevtownsend.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/more-accusations-for-barclays-to-answer/
If only a victim can report a crime, does that mean I have to ignore it if I see a copper being knifed?
Googling around (as one does) I found some Home Office guidelines (2004, so may not be current) on priorities for Fraud investigation:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/corporate-publications-strategy/home-office-circulars/circulars-2004/047-2004/
which includes the following criteria among Priorities:
* Frauds giving rise to significant public concern (possibly highlighted by a high degree of press interest).
* Frauds likely to undermine confidence in leading UK institutions or otherwise undermine the economy.
* Frauds committed by members of Boards or other senior managers.
Set against that, there are several mentions of “co-operation and support from victims”. The guidance doesn’t really seem to envisage reports from concerned citizens that a fraud may have been committed, especially if it’s rather technical and hard to point to individual victims.
Thanks for this. It’s a bit of a minefield. I think I may try my local force, Lothian & Borders.