Blackstone's Counter Fraud Professionals' Handbook

Michael James Betts is Head of Capability and Learning with responsibility for the Government Counter Fraud Profession, which is operated by the Public Sector Fraud Authority, part of the Cabinet Office. Prior to joining the team, he held a number of fraud and learning related positions across policing and the not-for-profit sector. He is an experienced counter fraud professional with 36 years’ experience in combating fraud and financial crime. His professional interests include the history of corruption with particular focus on the impact on procurement and people. He was integral to the development of the Fraud Investigation Model. He is an expert in developing economic crime occupational standards and training programmes. Michael is the named author of Investigation of Fraud and Economic Crime published in March 2017 and holds a master’s degree in Fraud Management with distinction from Middlesex University.

Laura Eshelby has worked in counter fraud roles in the Public Sector for over 20 years, including operationally as a fraud and financial investigator for the Legal Aid Agency, prior to joining the Cabinet Office in 2014. Her most recent role is as Deputy Director for the Public Sector Fraud Authority, leading the development and growth of the Government Counter Fraud Profession, where she is also the current editor of the Public Sector Counter Fraud Journal. Laura studied Sociology at the University of Surrey, before undertaking an LLB at the College of Law in London, and recently received her Advanced Certificate in Managing Fraud (ICA).

David Whitehouse-Hayes’ twenty-year career in Local Government & DWP as a Counter Fraud Manager & Financial Investigator developed deep subject matter expertise in Welfare fraud. Since joining the Cabinet Office in 2017, he has supported ministers and senior officials as a Welfare fraud SME, setting targets, performance monitoring, and advising on loss measurement and preventative savings development. David is a founding member of the Government Counter Fraud Profession (GCFP), improving counter fraud capability and leading the development of the GCFP Prevention Standard. David is an associate member of Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD).