PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Unfair Practices (14 October 2014)

To ask the Attorney General, whether the police have contacted the Crown Prosecution Service in regards to whether the practice of payday lenders or others issuing legal demands through letters from fake solicitors constitutes a criminal offence.

Asked by:
Emily Thornberry (Labour)

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is aware that City of London Police, the national police lead in substantial fraud investigations, is currently considering the widely-reported case involving Wonga. To date the CPS have not been asked by the police as to whether the practice of issuing letters from fake solicitors constitutes a criminal offence.

Any referral to the CPS will be made to the CPS Specialist Fraud Division, who would provide wider advice about whether such practices constitute a criminal offence if that was requested by the police.

Answered by:
Sir Robert Buckland (Conservative)
21 October 2014