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Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Guidance & Support

Fraud and corruption

COVID-19 scam awareness

Beware of fraudsters that are taking advantage of the coronavirus crisis. Criminals are using the crisis to scam people out of their money and personal information by requesting information by text message, email or social media pretending to represent the Council. We will never send you a message asking for your personal or financial information.

If you receive a message claiming to be North East Lincolnshire Council that you think is a scam then STOP. It’s a scam.

Please beware of Current council tax scams (Word, 15KB) . Further information on other COVID-19 fraud scams can be found on Friends Against Scams .

Fraud and corruption

As with other large organisations, the size and nature of the council’s services puts it at risk to loss due to fraud and corruption both from within the council and outside it.

We are committed to making sure that the opportunity for fraud and corruption is reduced to the lowest possible risk. Where there is the possibility of fraud, corruption and other related problems, we will deal with it in a firm, consistent and controlled manner.

Council Tax single residency discount review

We are reviewing all households within the North East Lincolnshire area that receive a single person discount on their Council Tax bill. We do this by comparing our records to those held by a Credit Reference Agency. We call this data-matching. 

More information can be found on the Single person council tax discount review page.

Report fraud

If you think there has been fraud on your card or bank account – or if you suspect anyone has attempted to compromise your financial details – report it immediately to your bank or financial services provider and then contact Action Fraud .

If you would like to let us know about a person who you believe is committing fraud against the Council then complete our Fraud report .

All reports are treated in confidence and can be made without providing any personal details. You can also report a fraud by phone on our 24 hour fraud hotline – 01472 326298, option 1.

Types of fraud

  • Benefit fraud – If you want to report benefit fraud go to GOV.UK – Report benefit fraud . If you are unsure whether the fraud effects Council Tax or benefits please complete our fraud report . We work closely with the Department for Work and Pensions and we will disclose the information you provide to them when Social Security benefits are involved.
  • Council Tax Support fraud – If you believe someone is claiming help to pay their Council Tax that they should not be, for example, because they have a partner who has moved in with them or they have started work.
  • Council Tax Discount Fraud – If you believe someone is receiving a discount on the amount of Council Tax they have to pay that they should not be receiving, for example, a person receiving a single adult residency discount when they have other adults living in their home or a student discount when they are no longer a student.
  • Blue badge fraud – If you believe that someone is misusing a disabled persons blue badge. This could include someone other than the badge holder using the badge for their own benefit. Report it on Blue Badge misuse.
  • Insurance fraud – If you believe that someone has made a false insurance claim against the Council.
  • Employee and Councillor Fraud – If you suspect that an employee or Councillor is involved in any fraudulent or corrupt act, this should be reported in line with our Whistleblowing Policy
  • Benefit fraud – If you believe that someone is committing Housing Benefit fraud, please report this to GOV.UK Report benefit fraud . Helpline 0800 854 4400 (textphone 0800 320 0512). Post: NBFH, PO Box 224, Preston, PR1 1GP.
  • Scams and consumer fraud – Rogue traders, mail fraud, door-to-door salesperson, telephone cold caller, email or online fraud
  • Food fraud – Fraud relating to food such as labelling, allergens etc

Fraud strategies and policies

An important part of this approach is the anti-fraud strategy which the council uses to advise and guide members and staff on its approach to the serious issues of fraud and corruption. This document provides an overview of our policy in this matter and includes a fraud response plan which provides more detailed guidance on how we will deal with fraud and corruption.

The main message is that we expect all members, employees, consultants, contractors, and service users, to be fair and honest, and to provide any help, information and support we need to deal with fraud and corruption.

We annually report the councils anti-fraud activities.

View our Anti-fraud and corruption strategy (Word, 65KB) .

Money laundering is the process by which the proceeds of crime are changed so that they appear to come from a legitimate source.

The council’s money laundering policy explains what money laundering is and the legal and regulative framework that is in place to govern it. It also specifies the processes the council needs to put in place to ensure that it does all it can to prevent the council and its employees being exposed to money laundering and to ensure that the council complies with all legal and regulatory requirements.

The key aspects of the policy are the:

  • designation of the Chief Financial Officer as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO)
  • establishment of procedures for employees/members to report any suspicions to the MLRO
  • establishment of procedures for employees/members to report any suspicions to the MLRO
  • provision of training to relevant employees/elected members in respect of the requirements of the legislation including the identification of suspicious transactions, identity verification and reporting procedures.

There are a number of money laundering offences specified in the regulatory framework that the council and its employees could be subject to. However, given the nature of the council’s activities the overall risks to the council of contravening the legislation are considered low. The council cannot however be immune from the risks surrounding money laundering.

Read our Anti-Money Laundering Policy (PDF, 639KB) .

Bribery is an inducement or reward offered, promised or provided to gain personal, commercial, regulatory or contractual advantage. It is a criminal offence.

To use a third party as a conduit to channel bribes to others is a criminal offence. We do not, and will not, engage indirectly in or otherwise encourage bribery.

We are committed to the prevention, deterrence and detection of bribery. We have zero-tolerance towards bribery, and prohibits bribery in any form whether direct or indirect, and by or for the council. We do not, and will not, pay bribes or offer improper inducements to anyone for any purpose, nor do we or will we, accept bribes or improper inducements.

A breach of policies or procedures relating to bribery could lead to disciplinary action.

The Bribery Act

The Bribery Act came in to force 1 July 2011 and may have an impact on the activities of the council.

There are four key offences under the Act:

  • bribery of another person (section 1)
  • accepting a bribe (section 2)
  • bribing a foreign official (section 6)
  • failing to prevent bribery (section 7)

The offences carry criminal penalties for individuals and organisations. For individuals, a maximum prison sentence of ten years and/or an unlimited fine can be imposed; for organisations, an unlimited fine can be imposed.

Action

We have reviewed our anti-bribery policy and procedures and need to ensure they are sufficiently robust to prevent bribery and to mitigate the risk of committing a bribery offence.

Read our Anti-Bribery Policy (PDF, 299KB) .

The further action we take needs to be proportionate to the risk the council is exposed to. We will firstly carry out an organisation-wide risk assessment. Dependent on those results we can then determine the activity required to implement, review or change procedures so that we comply with the 6 principles laid down in the Act.

  • Up-to-date and regular risk assessment
  • Procedures proportionate to the risk
  • Top-level commitment
  • Due diligence
  • Communication and training
  • Monitoring and review

If you have a concern regarding a suspected instance of bribery or corruption, please speak up – your information and assistance will help. The sooner you act, the sooner it can be resolved, You can raise your concerns through the council’s whistleblowing policy.

For further information about the Bribery Act and the council’s anti bribery policies please contact us by email at internalaudit@nelincs.gov.uk or by phone on 01472 323799.

North East Lincolnshire Council is committed to the highest possible standards of openness, probity and accountability in all its affairs. It is determined to develop a culture of honesty and opposition to fraud and corruption.

This Fraud Response Plan reinforces the council’s robust approach by setting out the ways in which employees or members of the public can voice their concerns about suspected fraud or corruption. It also outlines how the council will deal with such allegations.

Read our Fraud Response Plan (Word, 49KB) .

We are required by law to protect the public funds that it administers. It may share some information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.

The Cabinet Office is responsible for auditing the accounts of the council. 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 shows that there is an inconsistency which needs further investigation. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until an investigation is carried out.

The Cabinet Office requires us to take part in a data matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. We have to give some sets of data to the Cabinet Office for matching in each exercise, and these are set out in the guidance, which can be found on GOV.UK .

From 1 April 2015, responsibility for National Fraud Initiative (NFI) passed from the Audit Commission to the Cabinet Office. Future NFI exercises will use the powers given to the Minister for the Cabinet Office by Part 6 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014. The existing code of data matching practice will continue in effect until the Minister for the Cabinet Office issues a new code.

Data matching follows a Code of Practice that you can find on GOV.UK .

For further information on the legal powers and the reasons why it matches particular information, visit GOV.UK .

Our policy on reporting concerns (whistleblowing) has recently been updated. Its aim is to encourage employees, councillors and anyone undertaking duties on behalf of the Council to express any concerns they have about illegal or illegitimate practices involving the Council or those organisations delivering services on its behalf, without fear of victimisation, discrimination or disadvantage.

An example of whistleblowing might be theft or misuse of council resources, a breach of safety regulations or where information relating to wrongdoing is being covered up.

Read our Reporting a concern (Whistleblowing) policy (PDF, 289KB) .

Raising a concern

If you would like to tell us about what you believe is an illegal or illegitimate practice involving the council or one of its partner organisations, please contact us by email at res-customerservices@nelincs.gov.uk or by phone on 01472 326298.

How will my referral be dealt with?

All referrals are confidential and will be treated sensitively. We will channel them to the most appropriate officer and will keep you informed of who is dealing with the referral and how.

You will not be given any copies of investigative reports or audits, but we may advise you informally of the conclusions of the investigation.

Not all whistleblowing referrals will warrant a full investigation as it may be that the matter can be resolved informally.

North East Lincolnshire Council’s policy and employee guidance relating to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) & the Investigatory Powers Act 2016

It is sometimes necessary for the Council to use covert surveillance or deploy an undercover officer or informant as part of criminal investigations to protect the public finances or the health and well-being of the public.

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) provides a framework to ensure that any such interference with an individual’s right to privacy is lawful and can be justified.

It is also sometimes necessary for the Council to obtain communications data as part of criminal investigations. The IPA 2016 provides the lawful means for the Council to obtain such information.

To support the use of RIPA & IPA, the Council has a corporate RIPA policy and has developed a RIPA & IPA Employee Guide, to assist officers on the use of RIPA & IPA powers.

Occasionally people who receive Council Tax Support fail to declare changes in their circumstances that may affect their entitlement to that support. These are potentially criminal offences that we need to investigate.

In certain circumstances legislation allows officers authorised by the council to obtain information from employers, pension providers and other organisations for the prevention or detection of crime.

The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (CTRS) Authorised Officer Code of Practice governs the way our authorised officers will request and obtain this information.

Read our CTRS Authorised Officer Code of Practice (Word, 40KB) .

Related documents

Annual Fraud Report 2018-19 (PDF, 142KB)

Fraud Activity Data (XLS, 12KB)

Related websites

Action Fraud

Get safe online

Friends Against Scams

Contact details

The Assurance People, Municipal Offices, Town Hall Square, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN31 1HU

Email: insurance@nelincs.gov.uk

Telephone: 01724 296050

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