Metropolitan Police to launch PREFIT forum to protect employers

Metropolitan Police to launch PREFIT forum to protect employers from employee perpetrated crime

As a direct response to alarming trends in employee-perpetrated crime, the Metropolitan Police and screening industry are set to launch a cross-sector forum to share information and advice, and improve awareness of the vital role of vetting and screening in Protecting Employers From Internal Threats (PREFIT).

Its launch, to take place on Friday 19th June 2009 at New Scotland Yard, will be attended by a wide range of senior HR and security executives from leading UK organisations in both the public and private sectors.

PREFIT is a forum of volunteers from a range of organisations who share a common goal. It provides a forum for the sharing of information and good practice between employers and organisations with a wide range of investigative, enforcement and advisory agencies or other bodies. This will enable people who share its goals to further develop both their own and othersí strategies for screening and vetting, to protect employers in all sectors.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) estimates that fraud costs the UK some 20 billion a year. It is estimated that the majority of fraud-related crime is now perpetrated or enabled by organisations' own employees and fraudulent activity by company executives is a recurrent feature of business failures.

David Chernick senior manager at KPMG Forensic and chair of PREFIT comments: Insider fraud is insidious, it's on the rise and it's more professionally organised. The world is turbulent enough without having to worry about the damage caused by insider threats to job prospects, business survival and safe public services. And we're doing something about it.

ìWe all need to know who we're dealing with, who we're employing, who we're working with and we need to know how to do this effectively, fairly and lawfully. Launching PREFIT is the first step of victims and experts coming together from all sectors to collaborate in the fight against insider fraud. Leaders in HR, security, the Met Police, SOCA and the National Fraud Authority are already part of this growing network and we ask for everyone's support.

Detective Superintendent Russell Day, from the Metropolitan Policeís Economic and Specialist Crime Command, comments: ìOver the past three years the Metís Operation Sterling has established a number of forums or ëthink tanksí in key business sectors as part of its approach to combating economic crime through partnership working. These forums have already made significant progress and I am sure that PREFIT will follow in their success.î

Following the official launch, a dedicated, publicly accessible website will be available to raise awareness and to offer impartial advice for both employees and employers. There will also be a programme of workshops over the next 12 months available to those with an interest in learning more about specific aspects of employment screening and related topics.

Additional information

The initial PREFIT forum includes:
Control Risks Screening
Experian
First Advantage
G4S
KPMG Forensic
Kroll
Metropolitan Police
Security Watchdog
Serious & Organised Crime Agency
World-Check