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Explore our research into economic crime

We're researching the growing scale, impact and cost of economic crime, to help improve detection, prevention and prosecution

The Economic Crime Research Group (ECRG) brings together a diverse body of scholars interested in the study of ‘economic criminology’.

Economic criminology encompasses a wide range of financially motivated crimes, like fraud, money laundering, but also includes interdisciplinary subjects, like environmental crime, forensic accounting, psychology, cybercrime, forensic science, and policing.

The group is a networking platform that provides a welcoming and safe environment for fostering research collaboration and innovation between peers.

Our activities involve attending events, sharing research ideas and good practice, engaging in peer review feedback, conference presentations, developing joint research funding bids, supporting and mentoring peers, and discovering new opportunities and furthering study or career ambitions.

We hold a number of important events as part of our group and broader Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime, including the Annual Counter Fraud, Cybercrime and Forensic Accounting Conference, Winter Economic Crime Symposium, and Economic Crime Seminar Series.

The group covers the following themes:

  • Counter economic crime strategies
  • Bribery and corruption
  • Money Laundering
  • Beneficial ownership transparency
  • Offshore jurisdictions
  • Illicit trade
  • Freeports and free-trade zones
  • Preventing economic crime and corporate compliance
  • Sanctions against economic crime criminals
  • Economic crime measurement
  • Economic crime offenders
  • Security, terrorism, and political violence
  • Training and education related to economic crime
  • Victims of economic crime

Our research draws upon a wide base of interdisciplinary scholars, who are not just located in traditional schools of criminology.

Economic criminology must embrace the radical criminology espoused by white collar scholars and others, while drawing on every specialist discipline that contributes to the understanding of economic crime - including economics, computer science, security, accountancy, business management, psychology, rehabilitation, policing, and all forms of justice.

Publication highlights

  • Button, M., Hock, B., Shepherd, D. (2022) "Economic Crime: From Conception to Response", Routledge

  • Gilmour, P. M. (2023). “Reexamining the anti-money laundering framework: A legal critique and new approach to combating money laundering”, Journal of Financial Crime, 30(1), 35-47.

Key conferences and events

Annual Counter Fraud and Forensic Accounting Conference 
This annual conference at the 1024ºË¹€³§ features more than 20 speakers commenting on the latest ideas and research in economic criminology.

Annual Winter Economic Crime Symposium
This annual event brings together a diverse body of researchers, practitioners, students, and other community members to discuss most relevant economic crime topics in an open and flexible format. 

Economic Crime Seminar Series
A seminar series in economic crime invites those with expertise and interest in economic crime across faculties, departments, students and broader community to come together, share ideas, and engage in a collaborative work.

Teaching and related courses

Browse our Criminology postgraduate research degrees, including PhDs and MPhils.

Researchers in economic crime also teach on the MSc Economic Crime, and contribute modules toward a unique economic crime pathway in our undergraduate criminology provision. Several of our modules and courses are also recognised by important professional bodies such as . 

We offer training courses, including a Certificate in Intellectual Property Crime and Illicit Trade.

Partnerships and collaborations

We have access to one of the UK's largest groups of active economic crime researchers, and extensive links with policing, enforcement and industry bodies. See the Economic Crime Consortium (ECEC) for further details. We are in partnership with a number of strategic organisations, including The Institute of Money Laundering Prevention Officers, National Crime Agency, Home Office, Crown Prosecution Service, City of London Police, Companies House, and Serious Fraud Office.

Our research is regularly used and funded by government bodies, law enforcement and other public and private organisations that deal with fraud and other economic crimes. Recent funders include the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, Home Office, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, Intellectual Property Office, the Nuffield Foundation, Cifas, City of London Police, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Crowe UK (formerly Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP).

Researchers

Group lead:

Paul Michael Gilmour Portrait

Media ready expert

Dr Paul Gilmour

Senior Lecturer

Paul.Gilmour@port.ac.uk

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

PhD Supervisor

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Group members:

Mark Button Portrait

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Professor Mark Button

Professor of Criminology

Mark.Button@port.ac.uk

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

PhD Supervisor

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Branislav Hock Portrait

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Dr Branislav Hock

Associate Professor in Economic Crime and Compliance

branislav.hock@port.ac.uk

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

PhD Supervisor

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If you are interested in joining the Economic Crime Research Group or wish to learn more about our research activities, please contact Dr Paul Gilmour: paul.gilmour@port.ac.uk