Background

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is, like many parts of government, exposed to various types of economic threats and misconduct including fraud, bribery and corruption. MoD’s last public estimate of its fraud risk exposure was £1.3 billion in 2021-22.   

The MoD has a central team and and several police forces involved in responding to economic threats, including its Fraud Defence team, Ministry of Defence Police and the Service police forces.   

Scope

This factual investigation will examine how MoD responds to the risk of economic crime and misconduct. It will set out:  

  • how MoD is organised to manage economic crime and misconduct;
  • to what extent MoD’s detection of economic threats is consistent with the risks it faces;
  • what MoD investigates and what outcomes it achieves; and
  • what MoD is doing to strengthen its counter-fraud capability

NAO team

Director: Joshua Reddaway
Audit Manager: Christopher Barrett