The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is launching a fraud prevention unit in an effort to combat fraud in the sector. The new unit will work with police & customs officers to combat issues such as identity theft, counterfeiting & wine investment fraud. According to the WSTA, which represents over 340 firms producing, importing, transporting & selling wines & spirits, the new unit will enable member businesses to legally share information about actual or suspected fraud within the wine & spirit trade & liaise with police, customs & regulatory agencies where necessary. It will work closely with Operation Sterling, the Metropolitan Police Service's economic prevention & disruption unit. Welcoming the initiative, acting detective superintendent Nick Downing, who heads Operation Sterling, said police work with industry players was crucial to combating fraud.
