A FORMER police officer who was who was a specialist “cash-forcrash”

fraud insurance claims investigator, has been appointed by a law firm to work with its enforcement agencies.

Keoghs, based in Horwich, has appointed Mark Beales, a former officer with Greater Manchester Police’s (GMP) special operations branch.

The firm is the UK’s largest counter-fraud legal services provider and Mr Beales has 30 years of police experience.

He headed the formation of the GMP road crimes unit which tackled largescale motor crime issues, particularly organised fraud.

He was a senior investigating officer in the Operation Contact investigation, which saw more than 250 people arrested on suspicion of crash-for-cash fraud. James Heath, Keoghs director of counter- fraud strategy, said: “Organised motor fraud is a growing problem in the UK which is putting motorists’ lives at risk and costing insurance policyholders millions of pounds.

“To fight the criminal gangs that perpetrate these crimes, it is essential for the insurance industry to work in close partnership with the police.

“Mark’s experience of law enforcement in this area is unrivalled and his knowledge of police procedure, presentation of cases and use of intelligence mean he is ideally placed for this role.

“He will be instrumental in helping us send out a message of zero-tolerance to anyone tempted to take part in organised fraud and to bring to justice the individuals behind this dangerous and costly crime.”

Mr Beale’s appointment is the latest step in the growth strategy of Keoghs’ counter-fraud division — which recorded a 10 per cent increase in the volume of cases it dealt with compared to 2010 and a further 12 per cent growth is projected for 2012.

Last October, Junction 4 of the M61 in Farnworth was named as the site where more bogus crash claims were made than anywhere else in the North.

The three worst places were in London and the South East.

Insurance company Direct Line said Junction 5 of the M61, for the A58 in Westhoughton, Watergate Lane in Over Hulton and Manchester Road, Bolton, were other hotspots.

Crash-for-cash criminals fake accidents by making unnecessary emergency stops, forcing other motorists to crash into them.

They then make fraudulent insurance claims, often using fictitious passengers and injuries.

The claims sent local car insurance premiums up by £44 annually and cost honest drivers £350 million each year in the UK.

In 2009, Mohammed Patel, aged 25, of Nottingham Drive, Halliwell, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after he deliberately caused at least 93 crashes to defraud insurance firms.

Two other men, both from Burnley, were also jailed in 2010 for the scam.