National Fraud Initiative and Data Matching
How we scrutinise council finances and conduct data-matching to catch fraud.
Brighton & Hove City Council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. It may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud. This includes taking part in the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) data matching exercise every two years.
Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body against other computer records held by the same or another body, this is usually personal information. Computerised data matching allows fraudulent claims and payments to be identified, where a match is found it indicates that there is an inconsistency which requires further investigation. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error, or other explanation until an investigation is carried out.
Brighton & Hove City Council participates in the Cabinet Office’s National Fraud Initiative, which is a computerised data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. The Cabinet Office requires this authority to provide information it holds for this purpose and we are required to provide particular sets of data to the Cabinet Office, as detailed on the National Fraud Initiative website.
For the 2018/19 National Fraud Initiative, data supplied will include the following areas:
- Payroll
- Pensions
- Trade creditor standing data and payment history
- Private supported care home residents
- Insurance claimants
- Transport passes and permits (including residents’ parking, blue badges and concessionary travel)
- Personal Budget (Direct Payments)
- Housing (current tenants) and right to buy
- Housing waiting lists
- Council Tax Reduction scheme
- Council Tax
- Electoral Register
- Licences – market trader/operator, taxi driver and personal licences to supply alcohol
The Cabinet Office carries out the NFI data matching exercise under its powers in Part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned. Data is securely managed throughout the process and data matching is subject to a Code of Practice.
For further information on the Cabinet Office’s legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information, please visit the Cabinet Office’s Fair Processing pages or contact:
Head of NFI
Red Zone, 4th Floor
1 Horse Guards Road
London, SW1 2HQ