Retail Fraud: From Insight to Disruption

Lord Hanson of Flint OBE was appointed Minister of State for the Home Office on 9 July 2024. He has previously served as the MP for Delyn from 1992 to 2019. Lord Hanson held a number of different positions whilst serving as an MP. He was a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee from 1992 until he joined the Public Accounts Committee in 1996. He became the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 1997 and became Assistant Government Whip in 1998. He was promoted in 1999 on his appointment as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Wales Office. Following the 2001 general election he became the PPS to Prime Minister Tony Blair.
 
Lord Hanson served as Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office from the 2005 election until May 2007. He was Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice from May 2007 until June 2009. On 21 February 2007 he was appointed to the Privy Council. He was also Minister of State for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing at the Home Office from 8 June 2009 until the 2010 general election.
 
As Minister of State at the Home Office, Lord Hanson’s responsibilities are fraud policy, finance, corporate and delivery, science and technology, Overseas Territories, Union Devolution, all Home Office business across the missions in the Lords and public appointments, sponsorship and inquiries.

Mark Button is Professor and Director of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime at the University of Portsmouth. His research focuses on counter-fraud, cyber fraud, computer misuse, fraud measurement and the experiences of victims. He has conducted research for organisations including the Home Office, Cifas, the National Fraud Authority and the Sentencing Council, bringing extensive expertise in fraud prevention and the wider response to economic crime.

Grant is the Senior Operational Risk Manager at River Island one of the UK's leading high street fashion retailers. Grant has a remit encompassing risk and fraud as well as RFID and analytics. He has career expertise across financial services (insurance and banking) and retail with global experience leading international fraud and risk operations from a people and process perspective and merging both elements into a successful fraud and risk prevention strategy whilst always advocating for the genuine customer.

Chris manages the BRC’s Finance Community and has recently joined the organisation after working in public policy roles for a range of companies and organisations, including TikTok, Which? and Ofcom. He has extensive knowledge of current digital policy matters and online advertising regulations and has extensive experience in engaging with government and regulators, advocating for better consumer outcomes in markets and in shaping legislation.