FSA crackdown on insider dealing gathers pace

This week has seen a former banker and his wife charged with regards to market abuse laws in the UK in a further crackdown on insider dealing. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been making a specific play for insider dealing for some months now and a number of high-profile cases have recently reached the criminal courts.

The FSA is also looking to extradite a third person in the alleged insider trading ring in a statement which suggests that there is no hiding place for those caught up in allegations of market abuse and insider trading. In many ways it is the very public nature of the announcements and the court cases which could have an impact upon future insider traders who may finally be forced to think again.

Insider trading has been a criminal act for many years now although prior to the last couple of years it has been very difficult to prove cases in a court of law. A mixture of lacklustre evidence, the complicated nature of insider trading and the ever more inventive ways of communication between alleged insider traders has not helped the situation. However, finally it seems as though the authorities are now beginning to catch up on ever more complicated insider trading rings, but is it enough?