About Us

Founded by Peter Darby, PDA is a specialist counter fraud training and consultancy company that has gained a reputation for delivering quality products at affordable competitive prices.

Peter believes the key to PDA’s success lies in forming strong working partnerships with customers to turn their aspirations into workable cost effective solutions, providing a step change in skills, knowledge and working practices. We listen to customers; provide a flexible and professional approach to design and delivery; add value wherever possible.

Our Products

Our most popular training courses are the PDA Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist (ACFS) blended learning programme and the PDA Accredited Counter Fraud Technician (ACFTech). We run a number of ‘open’ and ‘closed’ (customer specific) courses each year.

All our courses can be tailored to customers’ individual requirements. Our training provides students with an opportunity to assess their learning through the completion of a multiple choice question test. On successful completion students receive a certificate to evidence their Continuing Professional Development. The training material, learning experience and environment is fully evaluated using the Kirkpatrick Evaluation Model and results and findings are fed back to customers. Courses can be delivered to customers at any location both in the UK and abroad.

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Learning Experience

Our students learning experience is immensely important to us which is why we offer training either via Blended Learning, Classroom, or Online.

To find out more about how to start the experience please contact Peter on 07714 216126.

Contact us

For further information on any of our products and services please contact either Peter or Malcolm:

Peter Darby | 07714 216126
peter@pdacounterfraud.co.uk

Malcolm Hollett | 07522 394883
malcolm@pdacounterfraud.co.uk

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The Team

The PDA team are highly experienced Counter Fraud professionals with a variety of backgrounds having worked in the counter fraud investigation and intelligence gathering environments for both the central government, and the police.

Together we are able to offer a broad range of products and services tailored to meet the counter fraud community’s specific needs. We are all qualified trainers who also hold Accredited Counter Fraud Trainer status, awarded by the Counter Fraud Professional Awards Board.

Peter

Peter’s background is in the counter fraud investigation environment where he has worked for over 50 years. He spent 28 years in the public sector working as an investigator and investigations manager. He ended his career as the Department for Work and Pensions Professionalism in Security (PINS) Project Team Manager where he was instrumental in turning the aspirations included in the Government Green Paper, “Beating Fraud is Everyone’s Business – Securing the Future” into reality. He personally designed and developed the accredited counter fraud training syllabus, co-chaired the Professional Accreditation Board and was responsible for procuring training providers and an academic institution, to provide a development learning pathway for counter fraud investigators. This initiative to professionalise the work of investigators across the public and private sectors has significantly changed the way investigations are conducted and raised the profile of counter fraud investigators across the UK. It has now become the recognised benchmark for counter fraud investigation training across the wider fraud community. His operational career has directly involved him in all aspects of external and internal fraud and anti-corruption investigations including progressing initial enquiries, gathering evidence, witness interviewing, interviews under caution and giving evidence in court, tribunals and disciplinary hearings. At an operational level he has managed and developed regional counter fraud investigation and prosecution units within central government, working in partnership with various government agencies, police forces and departmental solicitors on several successful major investigations. At a strategic level he has developed:

  • Counter fraud and security policy
  • Identity fraud investigation policy and guidance
  • Fraud loss measurement policy and guidance
  • National counter fraud training policy and programmes

He is an Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist and Trainer and trains counter fraud investigators and managers in all aspects of investigation on a regular basis. He is a Trustee of the Counter Fraud Professional Awards Board charity and a member of the Executive Board.

Malcom Taylor

Malcolm is a quality focused accredited Learning and Development professional with extensive expertise and experience in the training and development of learners with a wide range of diverse and professional backgrounds.

A member of the Security Institute, he is a fully qualified Local Security Management Specialist and Trainer and a Local Counter Fraud Specialist and Trainer. He has gained an Advanced Certificate of Education (Post Compulsory) from Canterbury Christ Church University College.

He has worked in a variety of Learning and Development and Security related roles for the past 20 years in both the public and commercial sectors. He spent 5 years as a Police Trainer with National Police Training before joining the NHS Counter Fraud and Security Management Service (now NHS Counter Fraud Authority). Prior to taking on the role of NHS Operational Fraud Manager for the West Midlands region, he trained both Local Security Management Specialists and Counter Fraud Specialists in all aspects of their respective roles.

After a 2-year spell on a security project in the UAE, he has since worked with a number of high profile clients delivering University Accredited Security Management programmes in both the UK and overseas.

Benjamin

Benjamin’s background is in criminal risk analysis and intelligence, specialising in Cyber Crime and computer aided crimes. He has worked for FRONTEX and EULEX Kosovo, as well as the cyber security project lead for a high risk private sector company. He has implemented and assessed a number of cyber security strategies in both the public and private sector, and used his investigative and analytical expertise to prepare organisations for the changing climate of cybercrime. His educational background includes a Masters in Criminology from the University of Utrecht with a thesis on ‘Cyber Crime as a Service’ and a BA in Criminology from the University of York with a focus on Organised Cyber Crime Groups. Both his academic and professional career has involved the covert and overt investigation of some of the most prolific cybercriminals and organised crime groups operating on the dark and surface web.

Andy Dangerfield

Andy completed 25 years’ service in the police in March 2016. He had been a Detective since 1998. As a Detective, he worked in volume crime, child protection, major crime and many murder enquiries. In 2007 he was promoted to Detective Sgt and moved into Fraud and Financial Investigation, receiving comprehensive training in both.

He completed his time in the police on a regional team tackling organised crime covering the southwest of England, utilising financial investigation and a variety of covert policing tactics available to law enforcement.  At the time of leaving Andy was an accredited Financial Investigator and PIP (Professional Investigation Programme) Level 2 Investigator.

Andy then moved to HM Land Registry running a newly created Counter Fraud Strategy Team. This role included the supervision of a team involved in Strategy, Policy, Data sharing and Subject Matter Expert input to digital and other projects. He was responsible for the review and implementation of the Cabinet Office Counter Fraud Standards into the Counter Fraud Group and the setting up, design and running of the first Fraud Risk Assessment process within HMLR, including the design and presentation of Fraud Risk Assessment workshops and the reporting the results. Andy also spent time supervising the Intelligence Team.

Since leaving HMLR Andy has been working for Gloucestershire County Council within a Shared Service providing Counter Fraud Services to 3 councils and one client within the county, working on several complex criminal and disciplinary cases including procurement fraud, covid grants and theft. Andy also supported enforcement teams with their own complex large cases including interview planning and conducting PACE Interviews with inexperienced staff.

Andy is an Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist and holds a Certificate in Fraud Risk Management and a Diploma in Counter Fraud Risk Management both from CIPFA.

 

Malcom Hollett

Malcolm’s background is in the counter fraud investigation environment where he has worked for over 40 years. He spent 22 years in the public sector working as an investigator on all types of public sector fraud enquiries; from individual frauds, to multiple organised frauds, as well as training new investigators in the field. He helped set up the Department for Work and Pensions Professionalism in Security (PINS) National Fraud Training Team and became involved in the research, design and development of the counter fraud training syllabus for both investigators and managers. He was made the PINS Portfolio Director with responsibility for all counter fraud training modules which he delivered to Central and Local Government Investigators and Managers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. He was also responsible for designing and delivering a series of bespoke events to meet the needs of specialist Investigators, for example Living Together fraud, Authorised Officers powers, Collusive Employer fraud, Witness Interviewing, RIPA Applying for Surveillance and RIPA Communication data. His operational career has directly involved him in all aspects of external and internal fraud. He was the operational manager of a specialist unit set up to investigate organised multiple identity frauds working in partnership with various government agencies, police forces and departmental solicitors. He is an Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist, Manager and Trainer and trains counter fraud investigators and managers in all aspects of investigation.

Ian

1958 – 2024

Ian was a Police Officer for 30 years before retiring in March 2011 from the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, based at New Scotland Yard. Ian was one of only three police officers in the UK to have attended an eight week Advanced Forgery Detection Course/Attachment with the National Document Forgery Unit, the United Kingdom Border Agency Centre of Information concerning passport and travel documents, and for two years he was seconded to the United Kingdom Immigration Service.

Following service as a Detective Constable in Special Branch he transferred to the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command taking the lead in a national operation investigating the use of travel documents by terrorists. During the course of his police duties, both with the Immigration Service and the Police Service, Ian has had to examine many passports and other documents for evidence of forgery and counterfeiting, and present the findings in reports for potential court cases. As part of his role as lead investigator in national operations, Ian also gave presentations and awareness training to Police Officers across the UK along with other government organisations, large business, banking institutions and other “trusted companies” in the detection and recognition of counterfeit and forged travel documents.

Natasha

Natasha has over 30 years’ experience working as an Investigator, Investigation Manager and Banking Fraud Manager within both the Private and Public sector. She has led criminal investigations from case inception, interviewed suspect offenders in accordance with PACE 1984 and the PEACE model, worked closely with Criminal Law Teams, Financial Investigators, the Police and other agencies and given evidence in Crown Court. Her high standard of work has resulted in regular nominations for work related awards being the recipient of the Security Celebrating Success Award.

She is an Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist and Trainer.

Mike

Mike is a barrister at 2 Kings Bench Walk chambers in London. Mike has been involved in over 2,000 litigation cases and has prepared numerous expert reports for the Court. He has specific expertise in conducting fraud investigations and in the prevention of fraud. He obtained a First Class Honours degree in Law. He was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 2007. Mike is responsible for and runs the Bar Council Forensic Accountancy training course for criminal and civil barristers. This course is compulsory for all newly qualified barristers. Mike also trains for various accounting bodies in the prevention of fraud and counter fraud techniques and measures. He is an Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist (ACFS) He has a particular expertise in criminal matters having been the external forensic accountant for the Ministry of Defence Police Fraud Squad. He has given evidence on numerous occasions in the Crown Court, High Court, the Technology and Construction Court, the County Court, the Family Court and at Military Courts Martial. He has also assisted in arbitrations and mediations. He has experience in the following types of cases:

  • Fraud investigations for the MOD
  • Serious Fraud Office and defendants
  • Investigations under the Bribery Act 2010
  • Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 investigations

Contact us

PDA deliver their courses nationally and internationally, both online and at a number of UK based face-to-face training locations across the UK, including London, Manchester and throughout the Midlands.

For further information on any of our products and services please contact PDA between the hours of 8am to 8pm:

+44(0) 7714 216126
enquiries@pdacounterfraud.co.uk