HMRC’s offshore, corporate and wealthy (OCW) unit opened criminal investigations into 25 wealthy individuals over suspected serious criminal tax frauds last year, according to multinational law firm Pinsent Masons.

The unit, which comprises about 500 staff, has a wide range of criminal and civil powers at its disposal, but reserves criminal processes for its most serious investigations, Pinsent Masons said.

OCW is part of HMRC’s fraud investigation servi...