Vulnerability as a driver of the police response to fraud
Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice
ISSN: 2056-3841
Article publication date: 5 February 2020
Issue publication date: 22 April 2020
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.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the Dawes Trust for sponsoring this work.
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
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited