Southend-on-Sea City Council provided specialist financial investigation expertise to support a Suffolk County Council case.

The case involved a property developer who was jailed in 2024 after being convicted of supplying fake building control completion certificates for flats that buyers believed were safe and properly signed off.

Following the conviction, Suffolk County Council was unable to carry out a financial investigation using its own resources. In August 2024, Southend-on-Sea City Council's Counter Fraud and Investigation Team (CFIT) agreed to support Suffolk Trading Standards by providing an accredited financial investigator on a no win, no fee basis.

The investigation was complex and involved multiple bank accounts and company structures. Southend's CFIT investigator identified more than £155,000 that had been deliberately hidden in accounts held in the name of the offender's wife. Action was taken to secure the money, ensuring it could not be moved and remained available to compensate victims.

At a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday 17 April 2026, Suffolk County Council, supported by the work of Southend-on-Sea City Council's Counter Fraud and Investigation Team, set out the importance of securing compensation for homebuyers who had unknowingly purchased unsafe properties.

The judge ordered that full compensation be paid to the victims and that Suffolk County Council's full costs be recovered, including Southend's CFIT fees. All payments are to be made from the secured bank accounts identified through Southend's investigation.

A Southend-on-Sea City Council spokesperson said: "This case shows the real impact that specialist financial investigation work can have. When our colleagues in Suffolk needed support, our Counter Fraud and Investigation Team was able to step in with the expertise required.

"By identifying hidden funds and acting quickly to secure them, our investigator played a crucial role in making sure victims received compensation and costs could be recovered. It is a strong example of councils working together to achieve the right outcome."

Additional information

• Southend-on-Sea City Council's Counter Fraud and Investigation Team (CFIT) provides specialist investigation services, including financial investigation and asset‑tracing work, and supports partner organisations where appropriate.
• in this case, CFIT provided specialist financial investigation support to Suffolk Trading Standards on a no win, no fee basis after Suffolk County Council was unable to carry out the financial investigation in‑house.
• the criminal investigation and prosecution were led by Suffolk Trading Standards, with building control inspections carried out by West Suffolk Council.
• the compensation and costs orders were made by Ipswich Crown Court following a hearing on Friday 17 April 2026.