The campaign, ‘Flag it Up’, has been developed with the Accountancy Affinity Group (AAG), Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to help accountants and solicitors spot ‘red flags’ that could indicate criminal activity. The campaign, which runs until March 2016, aims to provide professionals with best practice guidance on how to protect their business' reputation and ensure they are not caught up in criminality.

Helping professionals

Mike Penning, Minister for Policing, Crime, Criminal Justice and Victims, said: 'Serious and organised crime costs the UK at least £24 billion each year. This works out as roughly £1 for every person in the UK, every day of the year. A collective and relentless response to money laundering is vital if we want to tackle this destructive crime. Working with industry to help professionals spot the warning signs of suspicious activity will make things harder for those seeking to evade the law.' He added that the new campaign 'would help to raise awareness and advise those in the legal and accountancy industries how to identify and report suspected criminality that, if not dealt with, can seriously impact their careers and reputations.'

Criminal assets

Through recent amendments to strengthen the Proceeds of Crime Act, the Government is making a major effort to stop people moving, hiding and using the proceeds of crime. The Act gives law enforcement agencies the powers to recover criminal assets and freeze suspicious funds, while the Serious Crime Act 2015 made it a criminal offence to participate in the activities of an organised crime group.