THE MP for Wellington and Taunton has issued a call for action to crack down on identity theft after a constituent faced bills totalling more than £45,000.

MP Gideon Amos says the case has exposed a troubling gap in UK law.

Identity theft, even when it causes severe financial and emotional harm, is not currently classified as a police-recordable crime.

The constituent, referred to Mr Amos by Citizens Advice Somerset, discovered in early 2023 that their identity had been used to fraudulently establish a business without their knowledge or consent.

The deception only came to light when they received a Council Tax bill for thousands of pounds, linked to a dissolved company they had never owned.

Further investigation revealed forged lease documents and a trail of fraudulent activity which left the individual facing demands from an energy provider and struggling to secure a mortgage due to damage to their credit record.

Despite reporting the matter to Action Fraud, the national reporting service for fraud and cybercrime, the victim was informed that identity theft alone does not constitute a recordable offence unless a third party suffers financial loss.

Citizens Advice, which supported the complainant throughout, argued that this legal technicality fails to reflect the real-world consequences of identity theft.

“Although the perpetrators didn’t obtain credit, they defrauded our client by making them liable for debts they never incurred,” the charity wrote in a letter to Mr Amos.

“Until identity theft is classed as a crime, the police will do nothing to investigate or help victims.”

In response, Mr Amos wrote to both the energy company involved—requesting cancellation of the disputed debt—and to the Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention, calling for legislative reform.

His letter highlighted the reputational damage, financial liability, and long-term harm to creditworthiness that victims face, and urged the Government to empower police to investigate identity theft as a standalone offence.

The Home Office has since acknowledged the seriousness of the issue.

In a reply from Lord Hanson of Flint, Minister of State for Fraud Policy, the Government confirmed that the Independent Review of Fraud Offences will consider whether a specific offence of identity theft is needed.

A new fraud strategy is also in development, aiming to disrupt criminal activity and improve support for victims.

Mr Amos added: “This case shows how easily personal data can be misused.

“We need a legal framework which reflects the reality of identity crime and ensures victims are not left to bear the consequences alone.”

After the MP’s intervention, the energy company agreed to cancel the disputed debt, recognising the forged documents and Action Fraud report as sufficient evidence.

The constituent’s credit rating has since been restored, allowing them to move forward with their life after years of uncertainty.

Mr Amos said: "Identity theft is an insidious crime which places people in a nightmare scenario in which they are apparently spending money and running up debts, when in fact they are doing nothing of the kind.”