Cottrell writes letter to national crime agency
George Cottrell has written to the NCA:
“Dear Mr Biggar,
I am concerned that there may have been an unauthorised disclosure of information derived from Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), or other confidential financial intelligence held by the National Crime Agency or shared within the UK anti-money laundering regime.
As a long-standing member of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), and as the author of a bestselling book on financial crime and money laundering, I have long recognised the importance of the SAR regime in combating serious and organised crime. I have consistently supported the effective use of financial intelligence and the need to preserve the confidentiality upon which the regime depends.
Recent reporting by The Guardian and The Sunday Times contains detailed information concerning my banking activity. The nature and specificity of the information reported appear to resemble material that would ordinarily be expected to remain confidential within the UK’s financial intelligence framework.
While I am not in a position to know the source of this information, its publication gives rise to legitimate concerns that confidential information may have been disclosed without authorisation.
If there has been any compromise of SAR information or related intelligence, the implications extend beyond the individuals concerned.
Such a breach could undermine confidence in the integrity of the UK’s anti-money laundering framework, damage trust among domestic reporting entities and international partners, and potentially weaken the UK’s reputation as a secure custodian of sensitive financial intelligence.
The use of confidential financial information in the public domain to target a private individual would also raise significant concerns regarding public confidence in the institutions responsible for safeguarding such information.
In light of these concerns, I respectfully request that the National Crime Agency undertake an urgent assessment of whether there has been any unauthorised disclosure of SAR-related information or associated confidential intelligence connected to these matters. If appropriate, I would be grateful if a formal investigation could be commenced into how such information may have entered the public domain.
I would appreciate an acknowledgement of this letter and, insofar as you are able, an indication of the steps the Agency intends to take in response.
Yours Sincerely,
George Cottrell”
