National Fraud Initiative
National Fraud Initiative
Mossbank Homes and Stockport Council must, by law, protect the public funds they administer. One of the things Mossbank Homes may do to protect these funds is to share information with other organisations that are responsible for auditing or administering public funds. This is done to prevent and detect fraud.
The Audit Commission is an independent watchdog responsible for carrying out what are called 'data matching' exercises, which means comparing computer records held by one organisation against other computer records held by either the same or another organisation to see how far they match.
These records usually contain personal information. 'Data matching' allows potential fraud to be identified. Where a match is found, it means that there is an issue which requires more investigation before any further action is taken. No assumption can be made as to whether there is fraud, error or other explanation until that investigation is carried out.
Stockport Council has asked Mossbank Homes and other local housing organizations to take part in 'data matching' to help in the prevention and detection of fraud. Those organizations will provide limited sets of tenancy data to the Audit Commission for a matching exercise using a secure web site accessed only by a few authorized people. After its use in this matching exercise the data will be deleted from that site.
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.
However, the Data Protection Act 1998 requires Mossbank Homes to inform individuals that their data will be processed and we are doing that by including an article in our November newsletter and by posting this information on our website.
You can find out more about the National Fraud Initiative and the data required by the Audit Commission via the following weblink www.audit-commission.gov.uk/nfi.
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 www.auditcommission.gov.uk/nfi/fptext.asp.
Alternatively, for further information about Mossbank Homes participation in this initiative contact Tola Adesemowo at Mossbank Homes on 0161 232 5697 or email information@mossbank.org.uk
