Issue - meetings
Progress on National Fraud Initiative 2010 and New Initiative 2012
Meeting: 16/04/2013 - Standards Advisory Committee (Item 4)
4 Progress on National Fraud Initiative 2010 and New Initiative 2012 PDF 103 KB
Additional documents:
- NFI summary as at 11 Feb 13 Appendix1 TQ2803131546pm, item 4 PDF 37 KB
- Appendix2 NFI summary as at 11 Feb 13 (2) (2) TQ2803131546pm, item 4 PDF 44 KB
Minutes:
Mr Tony Qayum, Corporate Anti-Fraud Manager, introduced and summarised key points in the report, which provided a progress update on the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) 2010, an overview of anti-fraud work undertaken by Audit Services over recent months, and details of the new 2012 NFI. In particular Mr Qayum:
· Advised that the value of overpayments identified by the 2010 NFI initiative was now approximately £832k.
· Detailed the nature of cases and outcomes relating to Section 4B, 4E and 5B, 5C, 5D of the appended 2010/11 Outcomes Summary. There had been 12 prosecutions relating to cases categorised in Section 5 compared with 41 the previous year.
A discussion followed which focused on clarification being sought and given on the following points:-
· The total value of monies that would be recovered as a result of the 2010 NFI and the rate of recovery for these. Total value approximately £832k. Given the time needed to recover the monies their full value could not be recovered, however there was a deterrent value going forward associated with such prosecutions. A review would be undertaken in the Summer which focused on strengthening controls to prevent fraud where weaknesses had been found through cases identified by the 2010 NFI.
· What impact Government changes to Benefit payments would have on the NFI and the data available. Penalties identified for cases where there were no grounds for prosecution had risen from the debt plus 30% to debt plus 50%; and Officers envisaged that rather than pay this more people would take their chances in court.
· Whether data matching results at the start of an NFI continued to be examined until all information had been exhausted or whether the matching was refreshed. Given the volume of matches and examination of these in house by directorates with existing resources the cycle to obtain the information investigate and report back was 2 years.
· To what extent the fraud identified in the 2010 NFI would inform planning and prioritisation of resources for the 2012 NFI. The resources allocated for the investigation of Housing Benefit fraud and Social Housing fraud were to be maintained, as in the current economic climate and proximity to the City of London these areas were seen as high risk. It was intended to improve use of in house data matching.
· Given the cost to the Council of errors in some areas how were procedures being made more robust to prevent these in future. The Authority had an ongoing objective to strengthen systems and controls in response to identified weaknesses in order to provide appropriate levels of comfort; however it as accepted that there would always be risk in areas where monies could be claimed.
· The nature/ details of expenses claim fraud reported at Section 4E of the appended 2010/11 Outcomes Summary. 3 cases of obtaining parking permits at an address where the claimant did not live. 3 cases of delayed completion of paperwork for the deceased in a care home, and consequent continuation of payments. 4 case of duplicate ... view the full minutes text for item 4