what the unit does

The Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit was set up in 2002 to tackle the organised criminal networks that commit cheque and plastic card fraud.

The Unit comprises police officers drawn from the CIty of London and Metropolitan Police Forces. These officers are supported by bank investigators and case support staff.

The Unit responds to investigations on a nationwide basis including those involving:

* Cash machine fraud
* Plastic card counterfeting
* Mail non-receipt fraud
* Identity fraud
* Card-not-present fraud (fraud on telephone, Internet, fax and mail order transactions)
* Cheque fraud

As well as generating its own cases, the Unit receives referrals from banks, card companies and other UK police forces.

The main objectives of the Unit include: "to investigate, target and, where appropriate, arrest and seek the successful prosecution of offenders identified as responsible for organised cheque and payment card crimes."