Minister Neville-Rolfe today convened counter fraud experts
representing 13 local authorities across the country to share
best practice in the fight on fraud. It comes as data reveals the
local authorities represented at the meeting saved taxpayers over
£3.6m across the most recent reporting year, 2022-23, through
their work with the Public Sector Fraud Authority's National
Fraud Initiative.
The National Fraud Initiative is a large-scale counter fraud data
matching service run by the Public Sector Fraud Authority, which
compares data provided by public bodies, including some local
authorities, to identify anomalies that may indicate fraud has
been committed.
Local authorities represented at the meeting include
Hertfordshire, West Northamptonshire, and the City of London.
They were invited in recognition of their significant work with
the National Fraud Initiative.
The most notable areas of savings delivered were in relation to
fraud prevented by removing ineligible individuals from social
housing waiting lists and pension fraud where individuals have
been obtaining the pensions payments of deceased persons.
The counter fraud experts also discussed further achievements,
including the Shared Anti-Fraud Service (SAFS) hosted by
Hertfordshire County Council, who worked with the NFI to bring
together data from 8 councils across Hertfordshire and
Bedfordshire using the NFI FraudHub service, to identify fraud or
loss that could then be recovered.
Minister Neville-Rolfe said there was more work to be done, and
encouraged attendees to find even more ways to cooperate to
identify criminals stealing taxpayer money.
The Minister also announced the expansion of the membership of
the PSFA-led Community of Practice as now open to all local
authorities. The Community of Practice is a knowledge and advice
sharing forum for counter fraud experts across central, and now,
local government, enabling greater collaboration and collective
action in the fight against public sector fraud.
Minister Neville-Rolfe, DBE CMG, said:
It is essential that public sector organisations continue to work
together to keep taxpayer money safe. Today's meeting allowed me
to thank trailblazing local authorities setting the standard in
fraud prevention and recovery. We need to share this best
practice across local government and deter and target criminals
seeking to steal from the public purse.
Mark Cheeseman, OBE, said:
Local authorities are on the front line of the public sector's
fight against fraud. But all too often, fraud remains a hidden
crime. That's why the National Fraud Initiative is so important.
It helps it helps a wide range of public bodies to proactively
use their data to find and prevent fraud.
Councillor Bob Deering, Executive Member for Resources
and Performance, Hertfordshire County Council said:
Our Shared Anti-Fraud Service works day in and day out across the
county to ensure that public funds are not misused. Their stellar
work with partners from across the public sector just last year
resulted in millions of pounds being saved.
I'm really pleased to see councils working together with
government to identify areas where safeguards can be strengthened
and where best practice and knowledge can be shared.
Only by working together across the public sector and with
residents and business can we bear down on those who seek to
abuse taxpayers and the public's money.
The full list of participating authorities and councils
included:
- City of London Corporation
- City of Westminster
- Hertfordshire County Council
- Liverpool City Council
- London Borough of Islington
- London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
- London Borough of Wandsworth
- West Northamptonshire Council
- Veritau representing:
- North Yorkshire Council
- City of York Council
- Middlesbrough Council
- Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
- Cherwell District Council
