From 'shallow' to 'deep' policing: 'crash-for-cash' insurance fraud investigation in England and Wales and the need for greater regulation. (17th February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Button, Mark; Brooks, Graham
• Is Part Of: Policing and society. Volume 26:Number 2(2016)
• Page Start: 210
• Page End: 229
• Publication Date: 2016-02-17
• Subjects: private investigation -- insurance fraud -- 'shallow' and 'deep' policing -- privatisation; Police -- Periodicals; Crime prevention -- Periodicals; 363.2
• DOI: 10.1080/10439463.2014.942847
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-9463

Abstract

Abstract : The policing of insurance fraud has traditionally been dealt with beyond the criminal justice system as a private matter between the claimant and the insurer with only a few iconic cases referred to the criminal justice system each year. The growth of insurance fraud, particularly 'crash-for-cash' fraud, and the disinterest of the police, has led to a change in the response of the insurance industry. This paper will argue that this response can be characterised as a shift from the traditional 'shallow' to a 'deeper' form of policing which sees greater focus upon criminal and quasi-criminal outcomes. This paper explores some of the private and innovative methods the industry has developed and illustrates what greater private criminal investigation might look like at a time when police privatisation has become a higher profile issue. The paper argues the shift to 'deeper' policing necessitates greater regulation of the private investigation of crime and outlines a number of proposals to address this gap which require further consideration and debate.