Ask the expert: Predictions for the future of AML compliance
Anti-money laundering (AML) regulations are continually evolving in response to the threats of financial crime. But is there anything we should, and could, be planning …
Insight
The NCA has reported that there has been a 10% drop in the number of suspicious activity reports.
Commenting on the reduction, Donald Toon, director of economic and cybercrime at the NCA said, ‘In light of falling reports, there were significant doubts over whether the legal profession took its obligations seriously.’
The law society fought back decrying the ‘loaded’ language being used by the NCA, taking particular offence at the term ‘professional enablers.’
A senior lawyer also pointed out that these kinds of reports and statements usually happen when a government department was being scrutinised by the treasury.
In all of this a vital piece of logic is missing. Could it, perhaps, be that there is less suspicious activity to report as criminals know how difficult it is becoming to hoodwink lawyers and accountants thanks to their efforts?
