National Fraud Initiative 2008/09

Chester 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.

The Audit Commission currently requires us to participate in a data matching
exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. We are required to
provide particular sets of data to the Audit Commission for matching for each
exercise, and these are set out in the Audit Commission’s guidance, which
can be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi.

The Audit Commission appoints the auditor to audit the accounts of this
authority. It is also responsible for carrying out data matching exercises.

Data matching involves comparing computer records held by one body
against other computer records held by the same or another body to see how far they match. This is usually personal information. Computerised data matching allows potentially 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.

The use of data by the Audit Commission in a data matching exercise is
carried out with statutory authority under its powers in Part 2A of the Audit
Commission Act 1998. It does not require the consent of the individuals
concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Data matching by the Audit Commission is subject to a Code of Practice. This
may be found at www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi/codeofdmp.asp .

For further information on the Audit Commission’s legal powers and the
reasons why it matches particular information, see  http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi/fptext.asp. For further information on data matching at this authority contact Helen Peters, Benefits and Fraud Manager on 01244 402352.