The research is funded as part of a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) call, 'Ideas to Address Covid-19'.

Dr Jennifer Collins commented:

"The global Covid-19 pandemic has presented new opportunities for those looking to commit fraud. There has been an increase in fraud during the pandemic, as well as an increase in its complexity, placing it front-forward as a criminal law issue which requires advanced analysis."

The opportunities for fraud capitalise on the new vulnerabilities of systems, organisations, and members of the population, and activities are being propelled by sophisticated cyber-enabled schemes. 

The research project has two aims. 

• First, it will map the landscape of how fraudulent conduct is changing during the pandemic.  This will be achieved in collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and a series of roundtable discussions with fraud policymakers and practitioners. 
• Secondly, it will provide a normative framework for how emerging dishonest conduct ought to be charged and prosecuted at this time.

The research project commenced in December 2020.