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Insolvency Service enforcement outcomes 2026-27

Updated 27 May 2026

These tables show numbers of director disqualifications, bankruptcy and debt relief restrictions achieved by the Insolvency Service as well as on-going and concluded civil and criminal investigations. They are sourced from live Insolvency Service administrative systems and therefore some figures may be revised in future updates.

1. Director disqualifications

Table 1 shows numbers of director disqualifications in Great Britain resulting from enforcement activity of the Insolvency Service under Sections 2, 6 and 8 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act (CDDA) 1986. For Section 2, only those cases resulting from a referral or significant input from the Insolvency Service are included. The total number of director disqualifications is published annually by Companies House.

Table 1: Number and mean length of director disqualifications, Great Britain, 2026/27

Period	Number	Mean length (years)
2026/27	102	8.0
Apr 26	102	8.0

Source: Insolvency Service administrative systems

1.1 Section 6 director disqualifications

Table 2 contains numbers of disqualifications under Section 6 of the Company Directors Disqualification Act (CDDA) 1986. Section 6 relates to unfit conduct in relation to an insolvent or dissolved company. The number of allegations relating to COVID-19 financial support scheme abuse are also shown. Numbers of allegations are derived from information recorded on the Insolvency Service administrative systems. In some cases multiple allegations were recorded. The numbers below include all cases for which at least one allegation related to COVID-19 financial support schemes was recorded.

Since December 2021, the Insolvency Service has had the power to investigate directors of dissolved companies as well as insolvent companies. The numbers of Section 6 disqualifications relating to dissolved companies are shown in the table below.

Table 2: Director disqualifications under Section 6 of the CDDA, Great Britain, 2026/27

Period	Section 6 disqualifications in period	Of which relate to dissolved companies	Of which relate to unfair treatment of the crown allegations	Of which relate to COVID-19 financial support scheme abuse allegations	Mean length (years) for COVID-19 allegations
2026/27	92	0	6	64	9.4
Apr 26	92	0	6	64	9.4

Source: Insolvency Service administrative systems

2. Bankruptcy restrictions

Table 3 contains information on bankruptcy and debt relief restrictions, imposed under the Insolvency Act 1986. It is derived from information recorded on Insolvency Service administrative systems. The number of debt relief restrictions is small and therefore only the combined numbers of bankruptcy and debt relief restrictions are shown.

Table 3: Bankruptcy and debt relief restrictions, England and Wales, 2026/27

Period	Number	Mean length (Years)	Of which relate to COVID-19 financial support scheme abuse allegations	Mean length (years) for COVID-19 allegations
2026/27	4	8.8	3	8.7
Apr 26	4	8.8	3	8.7

Source: Insolvency Service administrative systems

3. Criminal investigation outcomes

Table 4 contains information on the number of defendants convicted following a criminal investigation and charges brought by the Insolvency Service. Convicted defendants may receive more than one sentence.

Table 4: Criminal investigation outcomes, Great Britain, 2026/27

Period	Defendants convicted	Of which relate to COVID-19 financial support scheme abuse
2026/27	5	1
Apr 26	5	1

Source: Insolvency Service administrative systems

3.1 Criminal sentencing

Table 5 contains information on the types and lengths of criminal sentences resulting from investigations concluded by the Insolvency Service

Table 5: Criminal investigation sentencing, Great Britain, 2026/27

Period	Criminal sentence: unpaid work (hours)	Criminal sentence: confiscation orders value (£)	Criminal sentence: rehabilitation orders	Criminal sentence: imprisonment (incl. suspended) (months)
2026/27	300	[x]	0	51
Apr 26	300	[x]	0	51

[x] indicates that data is not yet available

Source: Insolvency Service administrative systems

4. Civil investigation outcomes

Table 6 contains information on compensation order outcomes granted either by the courts following an application by the Insolvency Service on behalf of the Secretary of State or settled by way of undertaking.

Table 6: Civil investigation outcomes, Great Britain, 2026/27

Period	Civil compensation order and undertakings	Civil compensation order and undertakings value (£)
2026/27	4	187,151
Apr 26	4	187,151

Values for compensation orders and undertakings may be revised upwards in future months due to the time taken for information to be recorded in the relevant administrative system.

Source: Insolvency Service administrative systems

4.1 Companies wound up in the public interest

Table 7 contains information on companies wound up in the public interest following investigations by the Insolvency Service under s447(3) of the Companies Act 1985 .

Table 7: Companies wound up in the public interest, United Kingdom, 2026/27

Period	Winding up orders as a result of live companyinvestigation
2026/27	3
Apr 26	3

Source: Insolvency Service administrative systems

5. Enforcement work in progress

5.1 Targeted for investigation

Table 8 contains information on the volume of criminal and director disqualifications in Great Britain, live companies under s447(3) of the Companies Act 1985 in the United Kingdom and bankruptcy restriction cases targeted for investigation in England and Wales by the Insolvency Service.

Table 8: Enforcement work in progress, targeted for investigation, 2026/27

Period	Cases targeted for criminal investigation	Companies targeted for civil investigation	Companies targeted for live investigation	Bankruptcy restrictions targeted for investigation
2026/27	4	144	10	5
Apr 26	4	144	10	5

Source: Insolvency Service administrative systems

5.2 Under investigation

Table 9 contains information on the volume of investigations commenced but not yet concluded by the Insolvency Service for criminal, director disqualifications in Great Britain, live companies under s447(3) of the Companies Act 1985 in the United Kingdom and bankruptcy restriction cases in England and Wales.

Table 9: Enforcement work in progress, totals as at the end of each month, 2026/27

Period	Cases under criminal investigation	Company cases under civil disqualification investigation	Live companies under investigation	Bankruptcy restriction defendants under investigation
As at 30 April 2026	206	1,064	58	38

Source: Insolvency Service administrative systems

6. Enforcement work concluded

Table 10 contains information on the volume of investigations concluded by the Insolvency Service for criminal, director disqualification in Great Britain, live companies under s447(3) of the Companies Act 1985 in the United Kingdom and bankruptcy restriction cases in England and Wales.

Table 10: Enforcement work investigation concluded, 2026/27

Period	Criminal case investigations concluded	Company case investigations for civil director disqualifications concluded	Live company investigations under companies act 1985 concluded	Bankruptcy restriction investigations concluded
2026/27	11	101	18	0
Apr 26	11	101	18	0

Source: Insolvency Service administrative systems