Fraud
The Law Commission produced a report on fraud in 2002, highlighting problems with the law of fraud. It proposed new offences of fraud and of obtaining services dishonestly. The Fraud Act 2006 (which came into force in January 2007) abolished the offences of, amongst others:
- Obtaining property by deception (s15 Theft Act 1968);
- Obtaining services by deception (s1 Theft Act 1978); and
- Evading liability by deception (s2(1) Theft Act 1978).
The Fraud Act 2006 substituted a new offence of fraud (s1), which can be committed in three ways, plus one other offence:
- Fraud by false representation (s2);
- Fraud by failing to disclose information (s3);
- Fraud by abuse of position (s4); and
- Obtaining Services Dishonestly (s11).
Click this link for an overview of the above offences. The Fraud Act 2006 and Explanatory Notes can be found online at: www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2006a.htm. Alternatively, click below for pdf versions stored on this site: