Serious white collar fraud: historical and contemporary perspectives

Abstract

This article traces the development of fraud throughout history and the establishment of a class of criminal activity committed by members of the business community. There have been a number of attempts to legislate against white collar crime as a specific offence and these efforts have thrown up many definitional problems. The historical development of crimes committed by the business community is investigated within the context of the different approaches formulated in England & Wales and France, this leads into discussion of the possibility that in future there may be a fusion of organised crime and white collar crime in a global context. Many commentators and government agencies believe there is an expansion of the network of organised crime into the business environment and there is a danger that in attempting to overcome legal and socio-legal terminology active deterrence and prosecution is delayed. The issue of competing themes and meanings are explored and the conclusion identifies the controversies that continue to surround this subject and proposes a definition of white collar crime for international application.