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Counter fraud, bribery and corruption

The council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers, to prevent and detect fraud and deter bribery and corruption in all areas of the council’s work. 

We employ dedicated counter fraud and enforcement officers to investigate allegations of fraud and abuse and to assist in maximising revenue and loss avoidance.

The counter fraud and enforcement unit is a shared service which provides specialist officers to investigate all allegations of internal and external fraud. This can include abuse and misconduct by staff or councillors as well as external attempts by the general public; such as housing and tenancy fraud, council tax support and discount fraud, misuse of grant funding and other financial loss to the council.

In addition to the counter fraud and enforcement unit, there are other officers employed at the council who are charged with enforcement relating to environmental crime such as fly tipping and breaches of planning regulations which the team support and assist with.

Report suspected fraud to the council

Please use the following contact details for all matters relating to Cheltenham Borough Council, Cotswold District Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Stroud District Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council and West Oxfordshire District Council.

Please contact us to report any allegations of fraud or misuse of public funds, for example:

  • claiming false Council Tax discounts
  • business rates avoidance
  • benefit fraud
  • false housing applications
  • the subletting of a social housing property
  • any false application for financial assistance

To make a report, you can:

You can also use the above contact details to report any concerns relating to council staff or councillors.

All reports will be investigated and any information provided will be treated as strictly confidential.

You can make anonymous reports, however to enable us to obtain further information please supply contact information which will be treated confidentially.   

PDF Icon Counter fraud and anti corruption policy - pdf - 329 Kb

PDF Icon Whistle blowing policy - pdf - 209 Kb

 

Policies

To view policies relating to counter fraud and enforcement please visit the councils [corporate priorities and performance page (link)].

Fraud Risk

Download the counter fraud and enforcement unit risk strategy:

PDF Icon Fraud risk strategy - pdf - 488 Kb

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 and Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016

RIPA regulates the way public bodies carry out surveillance, both directly and online, and the way they use covert human intelligence sources (undercover officers). It also ensures there is independent oversight by the law courts.

IPA now governs communication data requests.  Communication data can include the address to which a letter is sent, the time and duration of a communication, the telephone number or email address of the originator and recipient, and the location of the device from which the communication was made. It covers electronic communications including internet access, internet telephony, instant messaging and the use of applications. It also includes postal services.  It does not include the content of any communication.  It is not lawfully possible for council employees under any circumstances to obtain the content of communications

The council’s policies are based on the requirements of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. The issue of human rights is a consideration of this type of activity and our policies ensure that there are no breaches of an individual’s right to privacy. The Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) oversees the council’s activities, and any complaints can be made via the IPCO website.

You can download the relevant policies below.

Any activity of this type must be documented and authorised by nominated officers and is reported annually to council's Audit, compliance and governance committee. 

If you have any queries, please contact our designated RIPA coordinator in the counter fraud and enforcement unit at fraud.referrals@cotswold.gov.uk.

PDF Icon Policy for the use of internet and social media in enforcement - pdf - 453 Kb

PDF Icon Investigatory Powers Act 2016 acquisition of communications data policy - pdf - 809 Kb

PDF Icon Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 surveillance and covert human intelligence source policy - pdf - 1.24 Mb

 

Data matching and the National Fraud Initiative (NFI)

The counter fraud and enforcement unit carries out data matching exercises to help prevent and detect fraud and ensure the council is providing efficient and cost-effective services to the public.

Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body or council department against other computer records held by the same organisation or another body to either confirm records or identify inconsistencies. The data matched may contain personal information.

The council takes part in the government's National Fraud Initiative, which is a data matching exercise to help prevent and detect fraud nationwide.

The use of data by the Cabinet Office in a data matching exercise is carried out with statutory authority under Part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. It does not require the consent of the individuals concerned under the data protection legislation. For details of the code of practice for the data matching and the Cabinet Office's legal powers, please view:

In addition, we may also conduct our own matching of records within the council and with partners for prevention and detection of fraud and the assessment and collection of taxes and debts.

If you would like to know more about how we use your personal information, see our [privacy notice LINK].

Related Pages

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