The New Strategy Signals Turning Point for Retail — but Collaboration Will Be Key
The government has launched a new national fraud strategy this week, signalling a more coordinated and ambitious approach to tackling what has become the country’s most prevalent crime.
Announced in London by Lord Hanson, the strategy commits £250 million over the next three years and sets out a framework built around three priorities: disrupting criminal networks, safeguarding individuals and businesses, and strengthening the response to fraud when it occurs.
For the retail sector—where fraud increasingly spans everything from organised payment scams to customer refund abuse—the strategy represents a significant moment. It also aligns closely with our ongoing work to address the growing challenge of first-party or customer fraud, and we engaged closely with the Home Office during the development of the strategy.
A shift toward disruption and collaboration
A central feature of the strategy is the creation of a new Online Crime Centre, designed to bring together government, law enforcement, and private-sector intelligence to disrupt fraud at speed. The strategy also places strong emphasis on using technology—particularly AI and advanced analytics—to detect and prevent fraud more effectively. International cooperation is another key pillar, reflecting the global nature of many organised fraud networks.
Aligning with retail’s growing concerns
The strategy lands at a time when retailers are facing increasing levels of customer fraud, where customers falsely claim non-delivery, dispute legitimate transactions or exploit returns and refund policies. We therefore welcome the emphasis in the Strategy for greater collaboration between retailers, banks, payment providers, law enforcement and policymakers. For retailers, the opportunity is significant. With regulators, law enforcement and industry bodies now aligned around tackling fraud, the conditions exist for meaningful progress. The real test will be delivery. Turning strategy into measurable reductions in fraud will require the kind of deep cross-sector collaboration the BRC and others have been advocating. The Strategy follows on from the launch of Report Fraud in January this year.
We will continue our engagement with stakeholders in tackling this and will work closely with the Home Office to ensure the strategy delivers for retailers
