Although much is made of falls in violent crime statistics, the fact of the matter is that other crimes are on the rise. People are more aware of issues such as identity theft, but other white collar crimes are also on the increase. Read on to learn more.
White-collar crime is non-violent and financially motivated. It is often committed by someone who uses his or her occupation to commit fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, or identity theft. Due to the high-tech nature of some of these crimes, they can be extremely difficult to detect. To learn more about the latest developments in white-collar crime, visit PolicyDevelopment.org.
There are specialist units that now deal with such crimes, with each unit specialising in a particular area, such as serious fraud or cyber crime. These specialist detectives are experts in their field, but even so, clever criminals often escape justice, or even worse, they manage to divert suspicion onto other, wholly innocent parties.
Specialist lawyers
Just as the rise in these crimes necessitated the development of expert investigators, so too was there an increased demand for specialist solicitors who had the legal knowledge and the financial or technical understanding to be able to argue on behalf of their clients. This is an important area of law, as even the hint of an accusation can leave an innocent man’s hard-earned reputation in pieces. The extensive powers that agencies charged with investigation of such crimes have at their disposal often mean that expert legal help is required from the outset.
If you have been implicated in a white collar crime of any type, you need to get professional legal help fast. Whilst there are any number of lawyers in the phone book, it is unlikely that the help you need can be found on the high street. You will need a specialist lawyer who knows exactly what he is doing.
Protecting your business and reputation
Any matter involving serious fraud should be taken seriously. Even if your personal reputation is not in the direct firing line, your business reputation could be, with implications reaching far beyond your immediate future. You need to find a team of solicitors who will utilise their expertise to provide you with a vigorous defence, exploring all potential avenues of investigation and helping to ensure that you understand exactly what the charges are against you and how best to defend yourself against them.
In some of the most serious cases you may be able to apply for help to fund your case. Due to the complex issues involved, the costs associated with defending a case can be astronomical, putting the matter out of the reach of the majority of clients. In the interests of justice, certain specialist solicitors are able to conduct a defence through public funding, regardless of the personal financial means of the client.
If your business is under scrutiny by the authorities, seek legal help immediately, even if you think that there is no discrepancy in your business handling.