UK Police Partner With Legal Firm to Recover Assets From Crypto Fraud Cases

In Brief:

The City of London Police has launched a civil recovery program with Gowling WLG after a successful £2M crypto fraud case.

The initiative aims to help fraud victims reclaim lost funds, even when criminal prosecution is not possible.

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The City of London Police has formally launched a civil asset recovery initiative in collaboration with international law firm Gowling WLG. The move follows a successful pilot program in which police and lawyers helped an elderly victim recover funds from a £2 million cryptocurrency scam.

The new initiative aims to help fraud victims—particularly those affected by crypto-related crimes—retrieve their assets through civil channels when criminal prosecution is not feasible. According to officials, this approach will allow broader access to justice for victims, enabling compensation even in complex, cross-border fraud cases.

Bríd Holden, Director at Gowling WLG, expressed optimism that the partnership will “encourage more victims to report fraud” and shift public awareness of asset recovery tools in the crypto age. The firm will coordinate with police, legal representatives, and affected individuals to streamline recovery efforts.

Detective Chief Inspector Craig Mullish highlighted that the lasting damage of fraud is often financial, not just emotional, and said the program would help reduce the long-term impact on victims.

In recent months, UK authorities have successfully used civil powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002—including new digital asset provisions—to freeze and recover stolen crypto. In one case, police recovered over £520,000 in defrauded crypto assets from scammers.

The broader vision, as outlined by legal expert Ashley Fairbrother, involves replicating such partnerships nationwide. He called the collaboration an “important step” in dismantling criminal networks, stating that only joint action between law enforcement and experienced private firms can address the rising tide of crypto-related fraud in the UK.

Fairbrother also emphasized the importance of ensuring victims are not left to carry the financial burden alone, as outdated legal practices and inexperienced legal providers have previously failed to reclaim stolen digital assets.

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