Vulnerability as a driver of the police response to fraud

Abstract

Purpose

Frameworks for understanding victim harm and vulnerability have become central to priority-setting and resource allocation for decision-makers in the police and government in the UK. This paper aims to look at the meaning of vulnerability in the context of fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

The research took a mixed methods approach, including analysis of national crime data (n = 61,902), qualitative data collected from interviews with practitioners (n = 107) and a survey of strategic lead officers in the police (n = 32).

Findings

There was a lack of clarity across practitioners and organisations in their understanding of vulnerability and the way it informed the police response to fraud, and a lack of resources and capability for identifying it.

Research limitations/implications

The authors invite reconsideration of the approach to fraud victims which have for too long been forgotten by response and support agencies.

Practical implications

We need to standardise and agree the definition of “vulnerability”; rethink eligibility levels; and refocus police on fraud victims taking vulnerability as a meaningful criterion in deciding who to support.

Originality/value

There is very little research on vulnerability and fraud victims; this paper, based on original research, fills this gap.

Citation

Skidmore, M., Goldstraw-White, J. and Gill, M. (2020), "Vulnerability as a driver of the police response to fraud", Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 49-64. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRPP-11-2019-0068