More than 11,500 companies have been removed from the Companies House register in the past year as part of a nationwide crackdown on economic crime, according to new figures from regulators and law enforcement agencies.
The operation, involving the National Crime Agency (NCA), City of London Police and Companies House, saw targeted enforcement against high-risk company formation agents and addresses associated with illicit activity. Over a two-day period, officers visited 11 locations across the UK linked to 30 high-risk trust and company service providers (TCSPs), focusing on entities suspected of enabling fraudulent business practices.
In one notable case, a single company formation agent had registered between 4,000 and 5,000 companies using a single London address, despite many of the firms being based elsewhere in the UK or overseas. Authorities say the scale of the activity raised red flags for criminal misuse.
As a result of the operation, three high-risk TCSPs are being shut down, while 27 others face enforcement action. Several individuals involved in mass company formations have also been barred from registering new companies. The NCA confirmed that criminal referrals had been made to the Insolvency Service and that a significant amount of criminal property had been identified for potential recovery through civil enforcement.
Martin Swain, Director of Intelligence and Law Enforcement Engagement at Companies House, said the operation marks an important step in the agency’s expanding enforcement role.
“We will continue to support our law enforcement and regulatory partners in identifying, targeting and stopping abuse of the company register,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Nik Adams of the City of London Police emphasised the broader significance of the effort.
“Criminals who use UK-registered companies to disguise illegal activity and move illicit funds are not just breaking the law — they are undermining the integrity of our financial system and damaging public trust,” he said.
“This operation is a strong example of what can be achieved when law enforcement and regulatory bodies work together.”
The crackdown follows legislative reforms introduced in 2023 that gave Companies House greater powers to vet and reject filings. The new laws include mandatory identity verification for individuals registering companies or submitting documents, and the ability to reject incorrect or fraudulent information.
However, not all reforms have been universally welcomed. Recently, some measures aimed at increasing financial transparency—such as requiring small and micro companies to file profit and loss accounts—were rolled back following opposition from small business owners and trade groups, who argued the changes would increase compliance burdens.
Despite these adjustments, the core tools introduced to fight economic crime remain in place, and the latest operation signals a more assertive stance from Companies House and its partners.
With fraud and economic crime costing the UK economy billions each year, officials say this type of collaborative enforcement is key to tackling the misuse of corporate structures and restoring trust in the company registration system.
