Doctors are increasingly assisting insurance fraud alongside other professionals such as solicitors and vets, police have revealed.
City of London police said medical staff were being targeted by organised crime groups to expand their operations and increase the fraud threat to the insurance industry.
The revelation of GPs' growing involvement may further strain relations between insurers and practitioners after recent conflicts over supplying medical data for underwriting and issues within the private healthcare market.
Officers pledged to use the new Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), launched in tandem with the ABI, to crackdown on large scale deceptions involving those enabling professions.
They also vowed to challenge the public perception that small-time ‘opportunistic fraud' was acceptable.
As COVER previously reported, the ABI is footing an estimated £8.7m bill to fully support the project in tackling a practice now estimated to costing the UK economy £3bn per year - adding on average £50 to each insurance policy.
Commander Ian Dyson of City of London Police, said the launch was an important day for both organisations.
"IFED is here to turn the tide against all those who break the law, dismantling far-reaching criminal networks and changing a culture that says it is ok to submit bogus insurance claims.
"There is much to be done and there is not a moment to lose," he added.
Nick Starling, director of general insurance at the ABI, continued: "Insurers are determined to protect honest customers by reducing insurance fraud.
"This police unit is an important initiative as insurers intensify their crackdown on fraudsters.
"The message could not be clearer: now more than ever anyone making a dishonest insurance claim is not only more likely to get caught, but risks getting a criminal record and certainly more expensive and harder to obtain insurance and other financial products in the future," he added.
