A new era in corporate fraud enforcement is here.

Nicholas Ephgrave QPM, Director of the Serious Fraud Office (UK) (SFO), has unveiled a bold, proactive strategy to tackle corporate crime. With record-breaking performance already under his belt, Ephgrave is driving:

• Faster investigations: average charge time slashed from 4.3 years to under 2.

• Smarter tech: AI tools delivering 40% efficiency gains in live cases.

• Bigger teams: SFO staff expanding to nearly 700 by next year.

•  Global collaboration: new international anti-corruption taskforce launched.

• Tougher laws: leveraging new powers under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, including the upcoming Failure to Prevent Fraud offence.

Ephgrave’s vision? A sharper, faster SFO that doesn’t just react—but hunts for cases, educates businesses, and prevents fraud before it happens.

https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2025/jul-2025/sfo-chief-heralds-more-dynamic-era-of-fighting-fraud