Plea negotiation guidelines promise shorter fraud trials

The Attorney General issued new guidelines on plea negotiations in cases of serious or complex fraud in early May. The aim is to promote more open plea discussions at an earlier stage and avoid protracted proceedings that have weighed so heavily on the court system, jurors’ stamina and the legal aid budget. The new arrangements will apply to fraud that meets at least two of a list of criteria: the amount obtained or intended to be obtained is alleged to exceed UK£500,000; there is a major international dimension; specialist knowledge is needed of financial, commercial, fiscal or regulatory matters; numerous victims have suffered; a public body has allegedly been deprived of a large sum; the public at large are likely to be concerned; and/or the misconduct in issue put at risk the economic well-being of the UK, for example, by undermining confidence in financial markets.