If you have been here long enough you will know the shame and scandal surrounding the National Investigation Service (NATIS), they were a supposed crack police team who went out and about rounding up Bounce Back Loan blaggers.
Well, it turns out that they were really Thurrock Council Staff pretending to be police men, and once I got wind of it and I and others reported on what they were up to, the College of Policing yanked their Police emblazoned uniforms, police URL’s and police email addresses.
If you want a good belly laugh and to learn more about dodgy NATIS and their shady goings-on read this article >UPDATED – NATIS, the Bounce Back Loan Door-Kicking “Police” Become a Laughing Stock as They Have Their Official NATIS.Police.uk URL Removed and Police Email Addresses Cancelled, as its Revealed, They Are Simply Council Staff Working For Thurrock Council and Appear to Have Been Impersonating Police Officers!
A Word from Mike
For the record, I have helped people set up repayment plans on defaulted BBLs (both legit and dodgy BBLs) valued in excess of the amount of money the Government spaffed up the wall on NATIS, (£38.5 million), funny old world isnt it.
By talking to people as humans on my helpline, listening to what they have been through and what they may have done, I have managed to advise them accordingly and helped them get it all sorted, instead of kicking in doors and treating people who may have made a simple mistake like hardened criminals like NATIS, the fake police, seemed to get their kicks out of doing.
That is something the Labour Government need to read and digest. In fact, I know they are doing just that, more on that later….
To put an end to that scandal, the Insolvency Service is to take over NATIS’s ongoing Covid fraud investigations.
- Insolvency Service to take over NATIS’s ongoing covid fraud investigations
- Decision comes after review of previous government contracts proved taxpayers’ money was not being spent efficiently
- Government focussed on reducing waste in the public sector and recovering public money lost through pandemic-related fraud
The Insolvency Service will take over NATIS’s viable investigation cases of Covid-19 financial support fraud in a bid to recoup taxpayers’ money lost to fraudsters.
Following a review of National Investigation Service (NATIS) performance to ensure the state works for people – it showed that public money was not being spent effectively – which is why all ongoing viable cases will be transferred from the organisation to the Insolvency Service over the coming months.
This is the latest move as part of the government’s Plan for Change to reduce waste in the public sector and reform institutions so they protect taxpayers money, and make the public sector more efficient and effective.
The decision to appoint NATIS – an agency based in Thurrock Council – was taken under the previous government and has cost the taxpayer approximately £38.5 million. Despite this, NATIS has only secured 14 convictions with the overall amount recovered by NATIS remaining unclear.
Within months of coming to power, this Government kicked off a review into their performance, to ensure public money is spent properly and not wasted. This investigation has revealed problems with NATIS governance and how recoveries are reported. As a result the government has asked The Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA) to conduct an additional audit of NATIS to determine and report accurate recovery figures.
Following this review, the department has taken decisive action to transfer cases to the Insolvency Service – who have a proven track record of effectively tackling fraud – giving taxpayers’ money the best possible value.
Whilst over £46bn has been issued by lenders to support businesses, there have been over 100,000 cases of loss to fraud and error. This measure will ensure the continuation of ongoing investigations and expedite the recovery of millions estimated to be lost due to covid-era fraud.
Business and Trade Minister Gareth Thomas said:
Since coming to office, we have been clear that this government will protect taxpayers’ cash and remove unnecessary waste and inefficiency within the public sector.
Today’s decision to transfer cases to the Insolvency Service will ensure lost funds from covid-era fraud are recovered more quickly and effectively, so they can be reinvested back into the economy and our public services, as part of our Plan for Change.
The Insolvency Service will be taking responsibility for NATIS casework, helping to conclude investigations to continue the important work to claw back money for the public.
The Insolvency Service has a proven track record tackling fraud and misconduct connected to covid support schemes since 2020 using its powers to investigate trading companies, prosecute criminal offences, disqualify directors and impose bankruptcy restrictions.
By the end of March 2025, they had secured more than 2,000 director disqualifications as well as 62 criminal convictions, helping to secure more than £6 million in compensation related to COVID-19 financial support scheme abuse.
The Insolvency Service Response:
Today the Department for Business and Trade has announced its intention to conclude its contract with the National Investigation Service (NATIS) and transfer existing casework, relating to COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan fraud, to the Insolvency Service.
In response, Alec Pybus, Interim Chief Executive of the Insolvency Service said:
- We welcome this decision by the Department of Business and Trade.
- The Insolvency Service is well placed to take on these investigations as part of our ongoing and successful work tackling fraudulent use of COVID-19 loans.
- We are working with our colleagues at the Department of Business and Trade and at Thurrock Council to deliver a smooth and swift transition of ongoing cases, and any potential transfer of staff.
To date, the Insolvency Service has obtained disqualifications against 2,167 directors, bankruptcy restrictions against 343 individuals and 62 successful criminal convictions in respect of COVID-19 financial support scheme misconduct.
The Agency has also helped to secure more than £6 million in compensation related to COVID-19 financial support scheme abuse.
The Agency already has plans to deliver further enforcement outcomes and financial recoveries in 2025/26, and will now work at pace to take on viable casework from NATIS in support of the UK Government’s drive to hold to account those who fraudulently claimed support during the pandemic.
