Creation of the Professional Training Pathway in Economic Crime Investigation 2024

The ambition of the Economic and Cyber Crime Academy is to provide the very best training to our colleagues across the UK and beyond. Reviewing and refreshing our courses is pivotal in ensuring that we remain current and continue to deliver training to the highest level.

We are pleased to announce that we have completed a full review of our learning offer, including our most popular courses – the Specialist Fraud Investigator Programme and the Accredited Counter Fraud Manager course. The new courses have been renamed and submitted to Skills for Justice Awards for accreditation. The courses focus on the wider fraud and economic crime arena and are the product of 12 months of dedicated research and development.

In doing so, we have created a Professional Training Pathway, designed to complement the College of Policing’s Professionalising Investigation Programme (PIP), and support investigators from foundation level to complex economic crime investigations, including supervision and management.

Our Professional Training Pathway dovetails with PIP 1 and 2. We are also working with the Cabinet Office to align our courses with the Government Counter Fraud Profession.

We are extremely proud of these courses, and are confident that our colleagues will find them incredibly valuable as they take their learning into the workplace.

Economic Crime Investigation Foundation Course (ECIFC)

This foundation level course aims to give investigators an understanding of the fraud landscape, associated legislation and the investigation of volume and priority fraud using the Fraud Investigation Model.

It is for police officers and staff involved in the investigation of volume and priority fraud.  Ideal for those new to fraud or investigators who have not previously completed training in fraud; it is aimed at those working at PIP 1 level.

The five-day, trainer-led, classroom course focuses on understanding the process of conducting investigations, the  importance of applying the investigative mindset, considering the investigator’s primary objectives and using the Fraud Investigation Model.

The learner will participate in a case study investigation.

This course is accredited by Skills for Justice Awards.

Economic Crime Specialist Investigator Programme (ECSIP)

The Economic Crime Specialist Investigator Programme (previously known as the Specialist Fraud Investigator Programme) has been designed for those involved with the investigation of serious and complex economic crime offending.  This will be included in the College of Policing PIP policy as a specialist elective model for PIP 2.

This programme provides learners with the skills and knowledge to effectively counter economic crime offending by establishing best investigative practice and implementing the Fraud Investigation Model at a tactical level.

The comprehensive ten-day, trainer-led classroom delivery is followed by the completion of a professional development portfolio related to operational learning and experience.  The completion of this programme will enable investigators to face the challenges of modern economic crime with a focus on prevention, detection, disruption and ensuring a clear victim focus.

The learner will explore and study the key stages of a fraud investigation.

The course is being accredited by Skills for Justice Awards.

Management of Economic Crime Investigation Course (MECIC)

The Management of Economic Crime Investigation Course (previously known as the Accredited Counter Fraud Managers course) has been designed to enable the learner to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to manage both volume and complex economic crime investigations utilising the Fraud Investigation Model at a strategic level.  This will be included in the College of Policing PIP policy as a specialist elective model for PIP 2 supervisors.

The course is for managers and supervisors of economic crime investigation teams. It focuses on developing best practice in investigative strategy and decision making skills for managing investigations.  It has been designed for law enforcement agencies and the wider public sector community with responsibility for the investigation of economic crime.

This five-day trainer-led classroom course includes assessed tasks.  The course will enable learners to face the challenges of modern economic crime investigation management with a focus on effective decision making and the strategic use of the Fraud Investigation Model.

The learner will explore and study the key stages of a fraud investigation.

The course will be submitted to Skills for Justice Awards for accreditation.

Commenting on the Professional Training Pathway Temporary Assistant Commissioner Nik Adams of City of London Police said:

“As the National Lead Force for fraud and cyber-crime,  I am really proud that the City of London Police are leading the National Workforce Strategy, with a key priority to ensure policing colleagues across the UK have the skills to tackle economic and cyber-crime, which accounts for over 50% of all reported crime.

The effectiveness of managers and specialist investigators is crucial to the success of policing this complex type of crime.

I am therefore delighted to announce that the Economic and Cyber Crime Academy has created a Professional Training Pathway that will be invaluable in training our colleagues to the highest standard.”

Click here for our Professional Training Pathway