When was the SFO formed?

The Serious Fraud Office commenced operation in April 1988. It has been responsible for the investigation and prosecution of some of the biggest frauds in British history. The SFO and its powers were created by the Criminal Justice Act 1987 (as amended).

A summary of the Act can be found under 'Publications and Speeches'.

The Roskill report

The impetus for introducing the Criminal Justice Act 1987 and creating the SFO was the Fraud Trials Committee Report, commonly known as 'the Roskill Report' published in 1986.

Its main recommendation was the setting up of a new unified organisation responsible for the detection, investigation and prosecution of serious fraud cases.

In the UK during the 1970's and early 1980's there was considerable public dissatisfaction with the system for investigating and prosecuting serious and complex fraud.

The government established the Fraud Trials Committee, an independent committee of inquiry, in 1983. Chaired by Lord Roskill, it considered the introduction of more effective means of fighting fraud through changes to the law and to criminal proceedings.