Simon Gower Email & Phone Number

Complex Financial Crime Teams

Tasked to establish a new and innovative approach to the management of serious fraud, drawing together a range of disciplines, I have developed a resilient central structure through the design and delivery of effective resourcing and robust terms of reference. Consulting with multiple stakeholders and senior leaders, I ensured exacting requirements were met and promoted an enhanced response to financial crime, building cohesion, resilience and vigorous case supervision.Identifying potential weaknesses, I established and developed strong team structures, driving the recognition of investigators with specialist skills able to better manage cases in respect to disclosure requirements, document structure and management and organisation. My activity has successfully secured organisational change and improved capacity to proactively target serious criminality. Forming this central resource, I devised and implemented advanced investigative structures to improve services and increase sharing of key assets from intelligence to software. I identified hidden international fraud and money laundering offences, going on to secure numerous successful outcomes which identified significant money laundering offending supported by complex offshore trusts and international laundering routes.Additionally, responding to critical risk incidents, I undertake the interpretation and delivery of strategies, supporting the delivery of a range of resources from surveillance to tasking. I negotiate with government departments, banks and other financial institutions at the highest levels; developing operation guidelines, establishing responsibility of resolution and identifying potential victims of crime, data breaches and security issues.

Operation G

I was selected to take charge of a long standing case of an internationally sensitive and complex fraud. This case attracted scrutiny at the very highest levels of UK and European governments and was regularly reviewed at NCA director level. The investigation focused on British investment banks who utilised international jurisdictions to launder illegally gained funds. These losses to European partners exceeded £1.5b and was the UK’s largest ever restraint order of £780m. Exercising exceptional diplomacy, respecting the expectations of national and international partners, I offered a realistic view of feasible outcomes managing the enormous scale and complexity of the investigation whilst simultaneously leading multiple challenging projects within the enquiry. A joint enquiry team was ultimately formed at Eurojust, with my operational activity and contributions receiving high praise.

Investigation Command

Managing 20 officers across two teams, I led complex investigations that sought to mitigate and challenge the most serious organised crime. I developed and directed operations to successfully confront critical emerging risk and threat whilst actively developing team expertise, enhancing performance and building morale and motivation. Driving robust information supervision and decision making, I built organisational resilience through the capture of best practice to secure continuous learning and improvement. Developing and implementing innovative protocols and investigative strategies, I exercised tenacity to resolve these complex and often protracted cases, supervising the dissemination of information, overseeing security, confidentiality and integrity and ensuring compliance with strict legislative and regulatory frameworks. I delivered the robust management of resources to maximise efficiencies and results whilst assessing and managing exceptional risk

I led a diverse team of specialist operatives across the UK, guiding on legislation, policy, tactical options and evidential opportunities, planning and implementing operations. I served as the lead on numerous investigations into an organised crime group involved in serious crime; utilising advanced techniques to manage risk and secure successful prosecutions around high level drug offending, human trafficking and child sexual exploitation.

I led investigations targeting organised crime groups; developing intelligence to challenge serious criminality around drug offending, money laundering and the distribution of counterfeit currency.

Criminal Investigation Department

Leading a team, I ensured the effective prioritisation of deadlines and objectives, taking charge of the most serious investigations and driving crime reduction initiatives. I guided on crime scene management, ensuring evidence was secured and that witnesses, suspects and evidential opportunities were identified. I also served on a dedicated murder squad, managing critical cases.

Operational Policing

I began my service as a constable undertaking a wide range of training and development. I moved to detective duties having demonstrated an intelligent eye for detail, enquiry and observation.