Investigator Training Programme

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is seeking a bespoke training programme that will equip its people with the core skills required to effectively conduct SFO investigations, based around the powers available to the SFO to exercise (including the Criminal Justice Act 1987/Section 2 and Proceeds of Crime Act 2002). The programme will cover the following areas:

• The theory and process behind conducting an investigation
• Interviewing witnesses and victims
• Interviewing suspects

The primary participants of the programme will be investigators involved in criminal financial investigations, as well as civil recovery and confiscation investigations. In turn, this will range from new entrant, trainee investigators, to experienced investigators/senior investigators, investigative lawyers and financial investigators.

By completing the Investigator Training Programme, learners will gain an increased confidence in:

• The theory and process that constitutes an investigation conducted by the SFO
• Adopting a strategic, methodical and investigative mindset throughout all stages of an investigation
• Their role and responsibility within an SFO investigation
• Investigative decision making and risk management
• Exercising the powers available to the SFO throughout an investigation
• Interviewing, taking and structuring statements from witnesses, victims and suspects.

To support learners in digesting and applying the programme content, whilst recognising the commitments from their day-to-day roles, we intend to split the course content into modules, comprising of up to three days per module. The modules will combine theory, along with interactive engagement and regular opportunities to practice the skills taught.