The Solicitors’ Regulatory Authority (SRA) has struck off a solicitor for accounts breaches and making false statements regarding his employment and education background. Alan Blacker who was previously dubbed the ‘Harry Potter’ solicitor was brought before the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal following what was described as a difficult investigation by the SRA. Read the full SRA statement.
Although details of the case a sketchy there are a number of things that this case should remind us of when it comes to developing an effective fraud strategy.
- Firstly fraudsters come in all shapes and sizes and we shouldn’t automatically assume that we can trust someone just because they have a professional accreditation. Be alert to the warning signs of fraud and make sure your staff, employees and suppliers know what to look out for too. See our resource centre sections on raising awareness as part of an anti-fraud culture and clear communication for tools including fraud awareness presentations and key messages for suppliers and contractors.
- There is a need to perform effective pre-employment screening of all staff including contractors. There should be enhanced screening for those in senior positions and positions of trust. See our guide on Screening and Due Diligence.
- Referral of suspicions to an investigatory body such as the SRA should be considered as part of a fraud response plan and effective investigations strategy.
- Action by a Regulatory Authority such as the SRA should be considered as one element of a policy of applying clear and consistent parallel sanctions to those who are caught trying to defraud an organisation.
- For the above reasons external bodies such as the SRA should be part of your stakeholder agreements.
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