Fraud is now the most prevalent crime in the United Kingdom. The annual Government Counter Fraud Awards recognise exceptional achievement and innovation in fighting fraud in the public sector. Entrants included counter fraud teams and individuals from across the UK public sector, including those working in local government and central government agencies and departments.

Our award was for the work we have done in raising awareness of how property fraud can occur, who is most at risk and what people can do to protect themselves. The awareness campaign focused on our free Property Alert service, encouraging people to sign up so they can receive an early warning of fraudulent activity on their property.

With minimal direct contact with citizens itself, HM Land Registry relies heavily on business customers such as conveyancers and estate agents to encourage their clients to sign up for Property Alert and read our fraud advice. In addition to making the public more aware of property fraud and how to protect themselves, our counter fraud team provides training to employees, law enforcement agencies and financial investigators in how to detect and prevent registered title fraud.

The judges said:

Property fraud is an area of significant risk and the campaign left no stone unturned in its efforts to raise awareness and engage citizens with its Property Alert service. They were astute in selecting the most effective, audience-appropriate channels and received justifiably very positive feedback for their efforts.

As a result of the increased numbers of people signing up to Property Alert in 2016/17, 100,000 more properties are better protected against fraud – an estimated £20 billion worth of property assets based on the average house price of £200,000.

2015 – presentGuatemala City, Her Majesty’s Ambassador2012 – 2015FCO, Deputy Head, Consular Assistance Department2012FCO, Silver lead, FCO 2012 Olympics Coordination Centre2012Lilongwe, Acting British High Commissioner2008 – 2012Lusaka, British High Commissioner (job-share with his wife)2003 – 2008Bratislava, Deputy Head of Mission (job-share with his wife)2004Phuket (Thailand), British Embassy Tsunami Crisis Office1999 – 2003Bangkok, Head of Political Section1997 – 1999FCO, Head of South Pacific Section, Far Eastern and Pacific Department1995 – 1997FCO, Head of Multilateral and Central Asia Section, Eastern Department1990 – 1995Bonn, First Secretary1990Paris, First Secretary1988 – 1989FCO, Desk Officer, Central Africa Department1987 – 1988FCO, Private Secretary to Political Director1986UK Mission to UN, New York, Committee Support Officer1983 – 1986Bogota, Second Secretary1979 – 1982Paris, Third Secretary1978 – 1979Ecole Nationale d’Administration, Paris1977 – 1978FCO, Desk Officer, Southern Africa Department1976 – 1977FCO, Visits Officer, Information Administration Department1976Joined FCO

2015 – present Guatemala City, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Honduras (based in Guatemala City) 2012 – 2015 FCO, Deputy Head, Climate Change and Energy Department 2008 – 2012 Lusaka, British High Commissioner (job share with her husband) 2003 – 2008 Bratislava, Deputy Head of Mission (job share with her husband) 2000 – 2002 Bangkok, Senior Public Diplomacy Officer 1999 FCO, Deputy Head, Cultural Relations Department 1999 FCO, Project Officer, Personnel Department 1998 – 1999 Maternity leave 1997 – 1998 FCO, Assistant Private Secretary, Minister for Europe’s office 1995 – 1997 FCO, Desk Officer, Southern European Department 1993 – 1995 Bonn, Third Secretary Science and Technology 1993 Brussels, Stage at the European Commission 1990 – 1992 Tokyo, Private Secretary to the Ambassador 1988 – 1989 Tokyo, Economic Attaché 1987 – 1988 Language training (Japanese) 1986 – 1987 FCO, Visa Officer, Migration and Visa Department 1986 Joined FCO

Law fairs are a good opportunity for students to find out more about the work of government lawyers and the legal trainee scheme.

Please contact the universities listed below for further details about their law fairs.

University	Date
City, University of London	Wednesday 11 October
University of Sheffield	Wednesday 18 October
Newcastle University	Wednesday 18 October
University of Cambridge	Thursday 19 October
University of Nottingham	Monday 23 October
University of Warwick	Tuesday 24 October
King’s College London	Thursday 26 October
London School of Economics	Thursday 26 October
University of Leeds	Thursday 26 October
Queen Mary, University of London	Tuesday 31 October
Cardiff University	Tuesday 31 October
Bristol University	Wednesday 1 November
University of Oxford	Saturday 4 November
University of Birmingham	Wednesday 8 November
University of Reading	Wednesday 8 November
University College London	Tuesday 14 November
University of Manchester	Tuesday 14 November
University of Southampton	Wednesday 15 November
University of Exeter	Wednesday 15 November
University of Essex	Wednesday 16 November
BPP University	Wednesday 22 November
University of Surrey	Wednesday 22 November
St Mary’s University	Monday 27 November
London Law Fair	Wednesday 29 November

UK Trade envoy visits Tanzania.