§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the current workload of the serious fraud office.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe present caseload of the serious fraud office includes 16 cases where proceedings have been commenced and a further 50 cases are under investigation. Since 1 April 1989 there have been eight trials involving 14 defendants of whom 10 have been convicted on one or more counts. A further seven cases stand listed for trial during the second half of this current year.
In tackling this substantial caseload the serious fraud office continues to develop its working practices by means of an extensive training programme, with the emphasis on the introduction of information technology as an aid to investigation and the presentation of evidence. A high priority is afforded to the development of working relationships with other law enforcement agencies and prosecuting authorities both at home and abroad.