Ever heard of NATIS?

NATIS – who are they I hear you say? Just like Hanman Regulatory they are the ‘new kids on the block.’

Four KEY pieces of information about NATIS

1-They are called the National Investigation Service.

NATIS describes itself as a law enforcement organisation with the responsibility for investigating cross-border, large, complex, serious organised crime relating to the public sector. We are struggling to identify where this description came from!

2-They are not a police force.

NATIS say they were created with the ‘sponsorship of government to bring policing and government agencies together to investigate serious crime where public authorities were the victims.’ We are not sure what ‘with the sponsorship of government’ means and what their powers actually are is not specified in detail.

3-NATIS describes itself as a government function,

Appointed by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, with a role to protect the public sector from serious organised crime. Where this description came from, we are still looking for detail!

4-Who tasked NATIS to take the lead on organised criminal gangs targeting HM government financial support schemes – such as Bounce Back Loans – provided in response to the COVID 19 pandemic? We are struggling to identify where the order came from.

NATIS’s role in Bounce Back Loan Fraud

NATIS appears to have taken the lead, not only in chasing down Bounce Back Loan Fraud (BBL) but in investigating and prosecuting BBL fraud.

Every day seems to bring forward a client being invited in for a criminal voluntary interview under caution with NATIS to explain the BBL(s) they have taken out. Take a look at this article article by Neil Davies and Partners on NATIS and BBL fraud.

The allegations usually made by NATIS.

The two allegations normally made by NATIS against an individual in a ‘politely’ drafted letter are:

So why should I be worried if I am investigated by NATIS?

The offences of Fraud and Money Laundering are criminal offences for which individuals, if convicted, can be sent to prison for lengthy periods of time, and this has happened in the Bounce Back Loan arena.
Account Freezing Orders are being used by NATIS. These are also fairly new ‘tools in the box’ and can cause devastating results.
As if custody is not enough, Confiscation Orders can follow conviction, under which the individual may have to pay an amount of money and if in default/not paid another prison sentence can be added on top of the sentence for the conviction.
The simple pleasure of going on holiday to America and some other countries can be affected if convicted or arrested.
Disqualification as a director, for a long period of time, is also a likely possibility if convicted, preventing an individual from being a director or being involved in the management formation promotion of a company.
Lastly, and not least, civil actions for misfeasance against the individual are just possible.

So, what should an individual do if they get a BBL invitation for a criminal interview under caution with NATIS?

Contact any of the team any time direct on their mobile

David Hanman 07515 345 491

Paolo Martini 07740 245 797

Eric Williams 07850 257 990

Sukhbir Mall 07825 326 858

or email dhanman@hanmanregulatorysolicitors.co.uk