Economic crime

For every vulnerable person defended

Defend society’s financial wellbeing against fraud, cybercrime, and economic abuse.

What is Economic Crime?

Economic crime, also known as financial crime, refers to a broad category of illegal activity involving money, finance or assets, committed by an individual or a group of individuals to obtain a financial or professional advantage.

Over half of all recorded crime in the UK is economic crime, including fraud and cyber crime. Criminals target everyone from vulnerable individuals to big businesses, posing a significant threat to national security, economy and causing serious harm to our society and individuals.

These are complex crimes requiring a sophisticated response.

In this role, you'll tackle:

Tax evasion, the illegal non or under payment of tax by an individual or a company.
Money laundering, which allows criminals and organised crime groups to benefit from the proceeds of their crimes or fund further criminality.
Online fraud, for example fraudulent sales of goods or romance scams.
Identity fraud, for example using a victim’s identity details to obtain a loan.
Bribery and corruption.

For every stolen identity recovered.

For every fraud ring dismantled.

For every

life

you'll change.

What we look for

An understanding of economic crime and cyber threats

An understanding of the evolving complexity of Economic Crime, the cyber security landscape and the impact it has on a wide range of victims and society as a whole.

An interest in data, finance and technology

A strong interest and awareness of data analysis, financial systems and evolving technologies and using this understanding to develop skills to protect victims and combat organised crime networks and career criminals.

Ability to manage complex data

The ability to take ownership of, and accurately handle, huge amounts of data in order to plan and prioritise complex and lengthy investigations.

Ability to detect patterns and anomolies in data

The ability to detect patterns and uncover anomalies within a variety of data profiles independently whilst also working as a team alongside policing colleagues and a wide range of partner agencies including the FSA, NCA, Financial Institutions, Trading Standards etc.

I wanted to make a difference, to be there for people when it really matters. Police Now helped me believe I could.

I never thought I'd become a detective but it's the best decision I've ever made.

Detective Constable Olivia Hall

You Already Have the Skills

to Make an Impact

Your experiences, whether from university, part-time jobs, volunteering, or team activities, have already shaped skills that could make you a great neighbourhood police officer. Bring them to a role where you’ll prevent crime, support communities, and build trust every day.

Leadership

Detectives take ownership of cases, guide teams, and drive investigations forward.

Resilience

Handling high-pressure investigations and complex cases requires mental toughness.

Analytical thinking

Spotting patterns, connecting evidence, and making critical deductions is key.

Communication

Detectives interview witnesses, present findings, and write reports with clarity.

Empathy

Supporting victims and understanding human behaviour strengthens investigations.

Attention to detail

The smallest clue can unravel a major case.

Adaptability

No two cases are the same. Detectives think fast and can respond under pressure.

Problem-solving

Finding creative solutions to complex criminal investigations is a daily challenge.

Is the programme right for you?

You’ve got the skills to change communities for the better.
Here’s more on what you’ll need to secure a place on our programme.

Are you eligible?

Do you meet the basic requirements? Check our full criteria before you apply.

City of London Police careers

City of London Police are the national lead force for economic crime and have a number of teams to counter these offences.

Alongside their Fraud Operations team, which investigate the most serious and complex fraud investigations, they also work in partnership with industries and government in some of their funded teams, including the Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), the Piracy and Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) and the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU).