Fraud

Tackling fraud is an integral part of ensuring that tax-payers money is used to protect resources for front line services.

The cost of fraud to the public sector is estimated at £40.4 billion a year. This is money that can be better used to support the delivery of front line services and make savings for local tax payers.

Counter Fraud

Counter Fraud Team

Gloucestershire County 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.

The council have access to a counter fraud team and dedicated enforcement officers to investigate allegations of fraud and abuse and to safeguard against potential loss of revenue.

The Counter Fraud Team (CFT) will investigate allegations of fraud, both internal and external, including alleged misconduct by staff and councillors. The CFT are also able to investigate all other allegations of fraud and abuse (including attempted fraud) by the general public, which may result in a loss to public funds.

How to report fraud to the council

To report any allegations of fraud or abuse of public funds, including, but not limited to: blue badge fraud, bus pass fraud, grant fraud, social care fraud, deprivation of asset fraud.

Give as much information as you can about the person you’re reporting. This could include:

their name
their address
the type of fraud you think they’re committing
any other relevant details

You can make a report anonymously - you do not have to give your name or contact details unless you want to:

Online - Complete the online referral form

Phone - You can contact us confidentially 24/7 on 01452 427052

Email - You can send an email to fraud@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Post - Write to us at: Counter Fraud Team, Gloucestershire County Council, Shire Hall, Westgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2TG

How to report internal fraud

If you are an employee, councillor or a contractor and wish to report an allegation about a colleague, or non compliance with systems, processes or policies, please see the council’s whistleblowing policy and complete this form anonymously or call the 24/7 confidential whistleblowing line anonymously on 01452 427052.

National Fraud Initiative (NFI) and Data Matching

Gloucestershire County Council participate in the Cabinet Office's National Fraud Initiative – this is a data matching exercise regularly undertaken to prevent and detect fraud nationally.

The NFI data match does not require the consent of the individuals under Data Protection legislation.

In addition, Gloucestershire County Council conduct data matching exercises to ensure the integrity of the funds it administers. Data matching is comparing records held by one authority with records held by the same or another body to identify irregularities. The data match may contain personal information. For more information about how the council use the data, please see Gloucestershire County Council’s privacy notice through the link at the foot of this page.

Other frauds

If you suspect that you may have been the victim of a fraud or scam please call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or report it online to Action Fraud.

A culture of transparency should strengthen counter-fraud controls. The Code makes it clear that fraud can thrive where decisions are not open to scrutiny and details of spending, contracts and service provision are hidden from view. Greater transparency and the provisions in this Code, can help combat fraud.

The total GCC Fraud and Irregularity activity can be found within the Annual Internal Audit Activity Progress Reports published in June.