FOI 24208
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: HRC0024208/26
I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 4th August 2026. Please find below the response to your request:
Please provide the following information relating to reported fraud against businesses in your jurisdiction for each financial year from 2021/22 to 2025/26.
- How many businesses reported being the victim of fraud whether committed by employees, suppliers, contractors or customers.
- How many arrests were made against firms or individuals who had been accused of committing fraud against businesses.
- How many successful prosecutions were made against firms or individuals who had been accused of committing fraud against businesses
Reply
West Mercia Police have conducted searches and hold the requested information below:
Caveat: Some organisations may have been the victim or more than one crime in either the same or different fiscal years. It is also possible that whilst the same organisation (eg a supermarket) was targeted, the offences have occurred at different locations. We have therefore instead provided the number of investigations which have an organisation linked as a victim.
|
All investigations which have "fraud" in the title where the victim is an organisation |
Fiscal Year |
Grand Total |
||||
|
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
2025/26 |
||
|
Attempted - Fraud, forgery etc associated with work records |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Attempted - Possess/control article(s) for use in fraud(s) |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Crime Investigation - Report fraud:- Call for Service |
96 |
112 |
74 |
52 |
88 |
422 |
|
Crime Investigation - Report fraud:- NFIB Referral |
36 |
62 |
23 |
21 |
35 |
177 |
|
Fraud, forgery etc associated with driving licence |
4 |
4 |
2 |
10 |
||
|
Fraud, forgery etc associated with registration and licensing documents |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||
|
Fraud, forgery etc associated with test certificate |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Fraud, forgery etc associated with work records |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Fraudulently obtaining credit |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Making or supplying articles for use in frauds |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|||
|
Possess/control article(s) for use in fraud(s) |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
|
|
Grand Total |
134 |
180 |
104 |
80 |
125 |
623 |
|
Number of organisations (each company counted once for each investigation they are linked to) |
Fiscal Year |
Grand Total |
||||
|
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
2025/26 |
||
|
137 |
183 |
106 |
82 |
131 |
639 |
|
|
Outcomes of all investigations which have "fraud" in the title where the victim is an organisation |
Fiscal Year |
Grand Total |
||||
|
2021/22 |
2022/23 |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
2025/26 |
||
|
Type 1 - Charged/Summonsed/Postal Requisition |
10 |
31 |
11 |
12 |
8 |
72 |
|
Type 1A - Charged/Summons - alternate offence. Offender has been charged under the alternate offence rule. |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|||
|
Type 3 - Caution Adult |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
10 |
|
|
Type 3A - Caution Adult - alternate offence. Offender has been given a simple caution under the alternate offences rule. |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Adult Caution - conditional |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Type 8 - Community resolution (Crime) |
1 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
8 |
|
|
Type 10 - Formal Action Against Offender is not in the Public Interest (Police) |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Type 12 - Prosecution Prevented-Named Suspect Identified But Is Too Ill (Physical Or Mental Health) To Prosecute, or confirmed died either before crime reported or before enough evidence to charge |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Type 13 - Prosecution Prevented-Named Suspect Identified But Victim Or Key Witness Is Dead Or Too Ill To Give Evidence |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Type 14 - Evidential Difficulties Victim Based- Suspect Not Identified: Crime Confirmed But The Victim Either Declines Or Unable To Support Further Police Investigation To Identify The Offender |
10 |
14 |
15 |
6 |
2 |
47 |
|
Type 15 - Named Suspect Identified: Victim Supports Police Action But Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action |
35 |
61 |
32 |
25 |
34 |
187 |
|
Type 16 - Named Suspect Identified: Evidential Difficulties Prevent Further Action: Victim Does Not Support (Or Has Withdrawn Support From) Police Action |
21 |
27 |
11 |
14 |
26 |
99 |
|
Type 18 - Investigation Complete; No Suspect Identified. Crime Investigated As Far As Reasonably Possible-Case Closed Pending Further Investigative Opportunities Becoming Available |
46 |
39 |
23 |
13 |
16 |
137 |
|
Type 20 - Further action resulting from the crime report will be undertaken by another body or agency subject to the victim (or person acting on their behalf) being made aware of the act to be taken |
5 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
11 |
|
|
Type 21 - Further investigation resulting from crime report which could provide evidence sufficient to support formal action against the suspect is not in the public interest - police decision. |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Type 22 - Diversionary, educational or intervention activity, resulting from the crime report, has been undertaken and it is not in the public interest to take any further action. |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Type AF – Action Fraud record filed temporarily awaiting result from master AF investigation |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
|
|
Ongoing Investigation |
2 |
1 |
4 |
29 |
36 |
|
|
Grand Total |
134 |
180 |
104 |
80 |
125 |
623 |