City of London Police have launched a criminal investigation into the activities of Kingsbridge Asset Management, a firm which targeted HNW individuals including top professional footballers. 



The police say that Kingsbridge Asset Management - and companies associated with it - provided specialist financial advice to high net worth clients between 1992 and 2010.

Kingsbridge offered investments in film projects and other schemes to a number of HNW clients including a number of high earning Premier League footballers. It is believed more than 130 professional footballers and others could have been victim.

It is alleged that management and staff at Kingsbridge, including financial advisers, conspired together to defraud a large number of company clients, resulting in significant financial losses.

The company ceased trading in 2010 but it is believed there may be hundreds of victims of fraud which often involved offers of substantial reduction in tax bills in return for investment into film schemes.
 
The City of London Police, the National Policing Lead for Fraud, is encouraging anyone who was a client of the company or associated companies between 1992 and 2010, and believes they have been defrauded, to come forward.

It is also urging those who may have important information concerning the activities of Kingsbridge Asset Management to come forward too.  
 
Yesterday (Thursday) detectives from the City of London Police’s Fraud Squad arrested a 60 year old man from Blackburn and two men aged 61 and 38 from Nottinghamshire on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud in connection with this investigation.The three men have since been released under investigation.
 
City of London Police’s Detective Superintendent Perry Stokes, the senior investigating officer for the case, said: “We are encouraging anyone who believes they are a victim or anyone who has information about Kingsbridge Asset Management or companies associated with it, to come forward.

“We are aware that there may be many people impacted by the activities of this company and it is vital that those affected come forward so their voices are heard and we are able to support them and provide the advice that they may need.”
 
The investigation team can be reached on 0800 056 0154. Alternatively reports can be made to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or through the UK Police Major Incident Public Reporting Site.