The UK Treasury has issued a formal request to banks, law firms, and other financial institutions, asking them to provide examples of how they have successfully identified and blocked illicit funds from entering the UK financial system. This move is part of a broader government effort to improve the country’s reputation regarding financial crime.

In 2018, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global watchdog, issued a report that was highly critical of the UK’s anti-money laundering (AML) framework. The report contributed to long-standing concerns that London had become a global hub for "dirty money." By gathering these "feelgood stories," the Treasury intends to compile a comprehensive picture of the system's effectiveness and demonstrate that the UK has significantly strengthened its oversight since the last FATF review.

While the government frames this as a necessary step to showcase progress, the request highlights the ongoing tension between the financial sector's regulatory obligations and the persistent international scrutiny of the UK's role in global money laundering. The Treasury's call for evidence is designed to provide a more positive narrative to international observers, though critics suggest that relying on self-reported success stories may not provide a complete or objective view of the actual risks remaining in the system.