NCA Probes Claims Staff Leaked Reform MPs’ Bank Records
The National Crime Agency is investigating allegations that staff illegally leaked bank transactions of Reform UK parliamentarians to media, with the party threatening legal action.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, publicly challenged the NCA earlier this month after media outlets reported on financial transactions that had been flagged to the agency through its Suspicious Activity Reports programme, according to Fintan Starkey writing in GB News.
Richard Tice, serving as Reform UK’s deputy leader, similarly discovered his private banking transactions had been disclosed to journalists.
The NCA has confirmed it referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which subsequently ordered the agency to conduct an internal investigation through its Professional Standards Unit.
In correspondence sent to Reform UK’s legal representatives, the NCA acknowledged the leak investigation while arguing that any court proceedings would be premature pending the outcome of the internal inquiry.
Tice told reporters that the NCA’s response represents the first considered response from the agency and suggests they have a serious internal problem. He expressed outrage at the breach and insisted the party will not tolerate such violations of privacy.
The unauthorized disclosure of information contained in Suspicious Activity Reports constitutes a criminal offense under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The NCA processes approximately 3,000 such reports every working day as part of its financial crime monitoring operations.
Notably, the NCA confirmed that its review of the flagged transactions found no evidence of any wrongdoing by either Farage or Tice, raising questions about why their financial information became the subject of media reporting in the first place.
Reform UK has indicated it will proceed with litigation if the investigation does not produce satisfactory results within a reasonable timeframe.
With information from GB News
