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Crime agency under fire over bank signature forgery

The National Crime Agency is facing criticism for failing to investigate reports alleging that banks forged signatures and fabricated evidence in court actions to repossess homes.

The NCA has received at least 19 boxes of evidence relating to 362 incidents.

But anti-corruption campaigners and MPs say victims haven’t been contacted and no investigation has been started.

The NCA says it is making a “thorough assessment” of the material submitted to determine whether a criminal investigation was necessary.

“We are continuing to assess the material, including additional information supplied in May 2020,” said an NCA spokesman.

“Together with partners in the FCA and SFO, we are making a thorough assessment to determine whether there are grounds for a criminal or regulatory investigation.”

In July 2019, an investigation by the BBC set out evidence of signature forgery on court documents used by banks and their representatives to repossess.

Handwriting experts confirmed that in many cases sent to the NCA, signatures used over the same name could not have been signed by the same person; and that the same signature had been signed over different names.

MPs say the extensive documentation submitted to the NCA supports allegations, denied by the banks, that evidence has been fabricated or concealed in court actions to recover personal and business debts.

But anti-corruption campaigners say not a single complainant has been contacted by the NCA among hundreds of victims.

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