Fraud enters statute book, corruption bill lapses but new move for trials without jury

The Fraud Act 2006 , which received royal assent on 8 November, creates for the first time a criminal offence of fraud in English law. A person may commit fraud in one of three ways: by dishonestly making a false representation, by dishonest failure to disclose information where there is a legal duty to impart it, or through abuse of a position in which he is expected to safeguard another’s financial interests. Under each head the defendant may intend to gain money or other property, whether real or intangible, for himself or someone else, or cause another to suffer loss or be exposed to risk of loss. The offence carries a maximum prison term on conviction on indictment of 10 years.