The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has welcomed the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the New Zealand Police today, saying it formalises an already close working relationship between the two agencies.
SFO Welcomes MOU with Police
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has welcomed the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the New Zealand Police today, saying it formalises an already close working relationship between the two agencies.
The initiative, announced by Police Minister and Minister Responsible for the SFO Hon Judith Collins, sets out new ways in which the two organisations can work together in the fight against financial crime.
SFO Chief Executive Adam Feeley says that the Office has been working in collaboration with the Police for some time, and the MOU builds on that foundation.
“A number of recent cases have highlighted the even greater impact that we can have on financial crime when we combine our skills, knowledge and resources."
“The introduction of Police secondments to the Office has been an enormous help to managing our workload, and staff from both agencies have been able to share valuable skills and experience. Similarly, we have and will continue to assign our forensic accountants to joint investigations which will help achieve good results in those cases.
"The MOU marks a positive step forward by both agencies,” he added.
A copy of the Memorandum can be found here:
For further information
Sarah Knowles
Serious Fraud Office
Phone: 021 675 998
Note to editors
Role of the SFO
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was established in 1990 under the Serious Fraud Office Act in response to the collapse of financial markets in New Zealand at that time.
The SFO operates three investigative teams:
- Fraud Detection & Intelligence;
- Financial Markets & Corporate Fraud; and
- Fraud & Corruption.
The SFO operates under two sets of investigative powers.
Part 1 of the SFO Act provides that it may act where the Director “has reason to suspect that an investigation into the affairs of any person may disclose serious or complex fraud.”
Part 2 of the SFO Act provides the SFO with more extensive powers where: “…the Director has reasonable grounds to believe that an offence involving serious or complex fraud may have been committed…”
The SFO’s Statement of Intent 2011-2014 sets out the SFO’s three year strategic goals and performance standards. It is available online at: www.sfo.govt.nz(external link)