Measuring the Impact of Fraud in the UK: A Conceptual and Empirical Journey

This article examines the conceptual and empirical underpinnings of data on the cost of fraud—collected for a study conducted for the Association of Chief Police Officers and summarized in the article—and reviews the strengths and weaknesses of the data collection processes. It also raises broader questions about the relationship between crime control ideologies, institutional responsibilities, and what data on crime are kept and not kept; and concludes by reviewing the implications of recent strategies for enhancing fraud data collection.