DCI Perry Stokes takes up the reins at the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit

DCI Perry Stokes has been appointed the Head of the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit (DCPCU), the police unit sponsored by the banking industry through Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA UK).

DCI Stokes takes over from DCI Dave Carter, who has been in charge of the Unit since 2012. DCI Stokes assumed leadership of the Unit on Monday 10 March, starting work on the current tranche of priorities of the Unit, which has a conviction rate of 94%.

DCI Stokes joined the City of London Police in 1998, following which he was appointed to the detective ranks and engaged in both volume and major crime investigations including fraud, drugs importation and murder. He joined the Economic Crime Directorate of the City of London Police in 2007. After establishing himself as a fraud specialist, he was promoted through the ranks to Detective Chief Inspector, and appointed Head of Fraud Investigation for the City of London Police in 2011.

DCI Stokes has overseen some of the country’s most high profile fraud cases in recent years and, in November 2012, was commended by the trial judge for successfully leading the criminal investigation into the biggest fraud in the history of the UK – that of UBS rogue trader Kweku Adoboli who lost his bank $2.3bn.

DCI Perry Stokes, Head of the DCPCU, said:

“I’m hugely excited to be heading such a well-regarded and unique team, which has received plaudits right the way up to the Home Secretary. The Unit’s 94% conviction rate, together with the losses averted by the payments industry, shows what a valuable job the DCPCU does. I am confident that, working with the excellent team already in place, together we can ensure the Unit goes from strength to strength.”

Katy Worobec, Head of FFA UK, said:

“We are delighted that DCI Stokes has joined the DCPCU. We believe he will be able to build on the Unit’s impressive record, the centrepiece of which is the achievement of £440m in savings from reduced fraud. The impact of the DCPCU is hugely reassuring for consumers, who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the work it does to disrupt the activities of the organised criminal gangs behind fraud.”

Established in April 2002, the DCPCU has achieved estimated savings of £440m from reduced fraud activity – which is equivalent to around £800,000 per week. During 2013, the Unit secured 48 convictions.