SFO plans expanded use of AI, automation and intelligence-led investigations to improve handling of complex economic crime cases
The Serious Fraud Office has set out plans to invest in technology and intelligence-led investigations as part of its roadmap for the year ahead.
Publishing its 2026-27 business plan, the SFO said it would focus on intelligence-led investigations, innovative modern tools and improving disclosure processes, as it seeks to increase the pace and efficiency of complex fraud cases.
The plan marks the midway point of the agency’s five-year strategy and builds on what it described as a year of “significant progress”, including strengthened international partnerships and major enforcement activity.
A central theme of the strategy is the increased use of technology. The SFO said it would invest further in automation, artificial intelligence and data analysis tools to enhance its ability to investigate complex financial crime more effectively.
It also highlighted the need to respond to the changing nature of economic crime, with fraudsters increasingly exploiting technologies such as AI and cryptoassets to carry out sophisticated offences.
At the same time, the agency said these same technologies present opportunities, allowing investigators to track suspicious activity more proactively and intervene earlier in cases.
The SFO said it would continue to prioritise intelligence gathering, aiming to identify and pursue cases at an earlier stage, while also improving how evidence is reviewed and managed in large-scale investigations.
Disclosure remains a key operational challenge, with cases often involving millions of documents. The agency said it would use technology to support this process, while maintaining oversight by experienced specialists.
Speaking at a public event, interim director Graham McNulty said the plan reflected the organisation’s ambition to focus on intelligence-led investigations, modern tools and effective disclosure, while improving efficiency despite the inherent complexity of cases.
Alongside domestic priorities, the SFO said it would strengthen international cooperation, including working with overseas partners on complex cross-border investigations and sharing best practice.
The agency also pointed to its role in maintaining the UK’s reputation as a safe place to do business, with its work targeting serious and complex fraud, bribery and corruption.
Overall, the plan signals a continued shift towards a more technology-driven and proactive enforcement model, with the SFO seeking to adapt to both the increasing complexity of financial crime and the opportunities offered by new investigative tools.