Business people convicted of fraud could be struck off professional registers, ordered to wind up their companies and be forced to pay back their victims, under proporsed measures open to judges as an alternative to jail.

Attorney General Baroness Scotland says the measures would prevent fraudulent business people from committing further offences and give judges a 'one stop shop' which, if put in place, could be used to improve sentencing of those guilty of fraud offences, according to The Daily Telegraph.

She said the professionals who could be banned from practising under these powers included legal services personnel, estate agents and financial services personnel.

The powers form part of the Crown Court Powers consultation and is a response to last year's Fraud Review which found that these professions were most prone to exploitation by fraudsters.

Further reading:

Fraud Review: nowhere to hide

Read The Daily Telegraph story