SFO staffing shortages improve under new leadership

Staffing shortages that have plagued the U.K. Serious Fraud Office (SFO) are trending in the right direction since its new director took charge, with the anti-bribery agency forging ahead with initiatives to ensure its future sustainability.

The agency is focusing on re-energizing its work culture by “investing in our people and the tools they need to succeed,” Nick Ephgrave, SFO director, said in its annual report for 2023-24, published Tuesday.

Last year, the SFO admitted in its 2022-23 annual report of high vacancy rates leading to a mixture of temporary staff and counsel that would be unsustainable moving forward. Vacancy rates have eased since then, according to the recent report, falling from 23 percent to 16.3 percent. The agency noted a new methodology being used to calculate staffing shortages.