As the SFO prepares to bring more charges in the rigging scandal over the Libor benchmark, there are question marks about its general capacity to function. Figures reveal that investigation numbers have plummeted in the last few years from 46 in 2010 to 17 in 2012 and eight in 2013. Barry Vitou, partner in law firm Pinsent Masons, says that money is 'the elephant in the room'. He says: 'It needs more money. The present budget means the SFO is under-resourced. Some employees at the SFO are very low-paid. This impacts on the ability to investigate.'

Mystery

David Green, the SFO's director-general, says: 'The SFO’s funding is a mystery wrapped inside an enigma and it certainly would be nice to get more certainty, but we are also a demand-led organisation.' Source: Daily Telegraph