Serious Fraud Office

Serious Fraud Office

Context

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) detects and investigates serious or complex fraud. The SFO's powers are far-reaching. It is not only persons suspected of offences who must provide information to the SFO, but also anyone holding any information that the SFO considers may be relevant to an investigation.

Serious Fraud Office E-government Initiatives

• Computer upgrading including new intranet

Summary

Ready Access: The SFO provides a degree of ready access to information through its website and the government portal.

Alignment: The SFO uses the Internet to provide information about when the SFO is able to investigate fraud, cases that it is working on, and contact details. Relevant links to other agency websites are provided.

Internet and Communications Technology

The SFO uses its website to provide information about the office, how to file complaints, and generic information about cases that SFO has completed. SFO has considered providing general information on the website about common fraud cases, such as Internet and email scams, but as this would duplicate information already available on sites of other agencies, links are provided instead.

The SFO is generally cautious about what information it puts on its website. Only limited information about cases currently before the courts is available. This is because the SFO needs to ensure that the people and businesses it is investigating are not harmed through unnecessary media attention or public exposure. Privacy legislation is also a primary consideration about what information can be made publicly available.

Similarly, information about fraud cases needs to be kept at a relatively high level so that it remains difficult for people to learn the specifics of other people's fraud.

Within the SFO, access to the Internet remains limited, and staff cannot access it from their desktops. This may change as the Internet becomes increasingly valuable for research.

The SFO has a new intranet that provides standard information such as a calendar, contact information, and document templates.

Information sharing with other government agencies is usually on a case-by-case basis. The most regular contact is with the Inland Revenue Department, with which a formal information sharing agreement is in place.

Ready Access to Information and Services

Metadata

The SFO has just two metadata records - one agency record and one service - 'Get information on how to make a complaint about serious fraud'. The records are appropriate for the Office's role to detect, investigate and prosecute serious fraud.

Additional records could be created to point people to other areas of interest on the website.

Website Assessment

Website assessed during May 2004: www.sfo.govt.nz

Overall, the SFO's website is of an average standard.

The website has a high level of accessibility. In future the usability of the site could be improved, and required government content added.

Key quality issues noted during the assessment included:

• Good range, depth and presentation of information content.
• Usability and site navigation could be improved for easier use.
• The homepage does not present a clear face, missing opportunities to offer relevant content to people.
• Website policies are missing, so people may be unsure about feedback, privacy, copyright and complaints.
• Missing accessibility features, such as navigation skipping, access keys and style sheet problems may impede some physically impaired people's access.
• Required email addresses are not available or were not answered during the assessment.
• Limited search results restrict people from finding information easily.
• Many broken links mean that people may be unable to access certain content.
• Frames throughout web pages mean that they cannot be book-marked to come back to.
• Contact details could be more specific, to enable responsive handling of enquiries.
• Links to other related content could be added.

Alignment With E-government Goals

Convenience and Satisfaction

In addition to the media, most regular contacts with the public are from people who claim that they are victims of fraud. Consequently, the website is intended to provide general information about the SFO's services and when the SFO can and cannot assist to investigate fraud. Ideally, people would read this information on the website before contacting the SFO in person or by telephone. However, as people seeking help have often been referred to the SFO from other government agencies, they generally want to speak with someone rather than look at the SFO's website.

Integration and Efficiency

Although the SFO does not generally share information with other agencies, the SFO's website does have a number of links to direct people to related agencies.

Participation

The SFO uses its website effectively to help people understand its role and functions.